Final e
Final -e dropped before vowels
When an ending that begins with a vowel (e.g. -ing, -able, -ous) is added to a word that ends in -e, we usually drop the -e.
- hope → hoping
- make → making
- note → notable
- fame → famous
- shade → shady
An exception in British English is ageing (more common than aging).
Some words that end in -e have two possible forms before -able and -age. The form without -e is more common in most cases. Note:
- likeable (usually with e)
- mov(e)able (both forms common)
- mileage (only with e)
Final -e is not dropped from words ending in -ee, -oe or -ye.
- see → seeing
- agree → agreeable
- canoe → canoeist
- dye → dyeing
Final -e not dropped before consonants
Before endings that begin with a consonant, final -e is not normally dropped.
- excite → excitement
- definite → definitely
- complete → completeness
Exceptions: words ending in -ue
- due → duly
- true → truly
- argue → argument
In words that end with -ce or -ge, we do not drop -e before a or o.
- replace → replaceable
- courage → courageous
- (but charge → charging, face → facing)
Judg(e)ment and acknowledg(e)ment can be spelt with or without the -e after g.
note
For words ending in -ie, (see here). For adverbs ending in -ly, (see here).