y and i

Changing y to i

When we add an ending to a word that ends in -y, we usually change -y to -i-.

Generally, nouns and verbs that end in -y have plural or third person singular forms in -ies.

Two spellings are possible for the nouns flyer/flier.

A machine that dries things is a dryer.

Words formed from the adjective dry: normally drier, driest, dryly/drily, dryness.

Words formed from the adjective sly: slyer, slyest, slyly, slyness.

We do not change -y to -i- before i (for example when we add -ing, -ism, -ish).

We do not change -y to -i- after a vowel letter.

Exceptions:

We change -ie to -y- before -ing.