How to use suffix in word

Word styles can be tweaked to insert fixed characters before the text.  Prefix anything in a certain style with your choice of characters or words. Suffixing, or adding after some text, is a lot harder.

Word’s prefix and suffix support is poor and very limited.  This article shows what’s possible and workarounds for this strange omission.

Why prefix?

There are various situations where you might want to use a style to set words before a paragraph.  For example, a simple Q & A with pairs of paragraphs like this:

With the preceding text in the style, it’s very easy to change the look.  Use different words or abbreviation (Query, Ask, Prompt) or separator ( : – —…).

Yes, you could use Replace but that only works if the find text is only in that starting location, not anywhere else in the document.

Suffixes or text following isn’t supported by Word but you can fake it, almost.  We’ll show some examples below.

• Adding … after an item
• ‘Read More’ or ‘click here’ text in links at end of excerpt.
• Whether a list (bullet or numbered) should have a fullstop/period at the end of each item. (this provokes some very heated opinions!)

Prefix/Suffix support would be great for special items like product codes, SKUs, code samples etc.  With proper prefix/suffix support in character styles it would be possible to show those elements in a consistent and easily changeable way.  (SKU1234) could become [SKU1234]  {SKU1234} or just SKU1234 by just changing the style.

CSS prefix/suffix

Web designers know that prefix/suffix is easy with Cascading Style Sheets CSS used in most web sites.  There are Pseudo-elements called :before and :after combined with the ‘content’ property that can add whatever you like as prefix or suffix.

ol li:before
{   content:"Question "; }

That CSS code adds the text ‘Question ’ to the start of each item in an numbered list.

If it’s possible and easy in a browser, surely it’s available in Microsoft Word?  Sorry, not so much.

Prefix

There’s no direct support for prefixes in Word but it’s fairly easy to fake for paragraphs.  In short, use multi-level numbering but without the numbers!

As you may know, Home | Paragraph | Multi-Level list can add text before numbers like Article, Heading, Section etc.

Make a new Multilevel list.

Number style for this level choose None.

• Number style for this level – type in the prefix text you want.

Answer could be a separate multilevel list style but it’s probably easier to make it the second level of the same list style. If you wish, change the Aligned and Text indent so it’s aligned with Question, instead of the default indenting.

That works for paragraphs but not for character styles where, arguably, prefix/suffix support is needed even more. There’s a workaround for that, which we’ll explain below for suffixes.

Suffix

Adding fixed suffix text is possible but a lot harder. Harder than it should be.

Here’s an example of where a style-based suffix would be useful. The label (Bold, Italic etc.) can have different suffixes depending on preference (space, colon, dash, em-dash).

Ideally the label text could have a Character Style with a suffix setup in the style.  Since Microsoft hasn’t given us that, we have to look for workarounds.

If the suffix character or word is only in the suffix and nowhere else in the document, a simple Replace is enough.

But if the suffix is (or might be) in other parts of the document, a more complex Replace is necessary.

End of Paragraph only

One possibility is to search for the ending text plus the end of paragraph marker (^p in a find or replace).  That ensures you only replace text at the end of a paragraph.

This example replaces ellipsis … with a colon but only if at the end of a paragraph.

Limit by style

Another way to limit a find/replace is by style.

For this to work, you need to apply a special style to the paragraphs or phrases that need a special suffix.  Any replace can be limited to text just in that style. Choose the find and replace style using Format | Style.

This example only applies to text with the style ‘Code char’, the square closing bracket is replaced with a curly closing bracket.  E.g.   [Screen Cap]  becomes [Screen Cap}  .

VITAL!  This assumes that the prefix/suffix character is ONLY used in those two positions, not in the main text formatted with that style.

That’s also a way to workaround prefix/suffix in a character style.

Adding text to character style

If there’s no prefix/suffix text already present, there’s a way to insert text before or after a character style.

Use Replace with one of the lesser used find settings: Find whole words only.  Combine that with searching in a chosen style only.

Replace with uses another lesser known option:  Find What Text ^&  which inserts the result of the find into the replace box. If you want a prefix, add the text before e.g

Command:^&

For a suffix put it after:

^& —
If you prefer Wildcards / Regular Expressions, try this.

(<[A-Za-z]@{1,99})

Or

(<*>)

Finds whole words (letters only) or entire words in the chosen style only.

This works for single words only, as in our example above.

Finding multiple words takes more complex wildcards that find the word and extend to the start of the following text (in this case ‘Ctrl’).

Wish List

If Microsoft wanted to improve Word styles, they could start by looking at some of the features in modern CSS like pseudo elements  :before :after :first-letter and :first-line.  Add to that something not in CSS  :first-para

Use keyboard shortcuts to apply superscript or subscript

What is the name of a syllable added to the end of a word?

suffix

What is a suffix and prefix?

A prefix is a group of letters placed before the root of a word. A suffix is a group of letters placed after the root of a word.

1. Select the text or number that you want.
2. For superscript, press Ctrl, Shift, and the Plus sign (+) at the same time. For subscript, press Ctrl and the Equal sign (=) at the same time. (Do not press Shift.)

Should I use DR title?

While in more formal settings, such as wedding invitations, or job interviews, it is still appropriate to use full titles, in more casual everyday use, the use of Dr in daily speech can look a little pompous. Academics often play down their title in such settings because it can create social barriers.

What is meant by Mrs Jones?

Jones” is a 1972 soul song written by Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Cary Gilbert, and originally recorded by Billy Paul. It describes an extramarital affair between a man and his lover, Mrs. Jones. In the song, the two meet in secret “every day at the same cafe”, at 6:30, where they hold hands and talk.

How do you write Mr and Mrs on an envelope?

Traditionally for married couples, you include the male’s first and last name (i.e. Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Arendt). It’s likely the most familiar and the most common way to address envelopes.

What is Mr Mrs called?

History and etiquette tell us that Mister and Missus, known by the contractions Mr. and Mrs., are the proper ways to address men and women.

Where did Mr and Mrs come from?

Mr and Mrs were originally the abbreviations of master and mistress, while mister and missus (also spelt missis) are the renderings of the altered pronunciation of master and mistress in Mr and Mrs. (Similarly, miss was originally short for mistress.)

What is the original word for Miss?

Originating in the 17th century, it is a contraction of mistress, which was used for all women. Its counterparts are Mrs., usually used only for married women, and Ms., which can be used for married or unmarried women. The plural Misses may be used, such as in The Misses Doe.

Asked by: Drew Haley

Score: 5/5
(65 votes)

A suffix is a letter or group of letters added to the end of a word. Suffixes are commonly used to show the part of speech of a word. For example, adding «ion» to the verb «act» gives us «action,» the noun form of the word. Suffixes also tell us the verb tense of words or whether the words are plural or singular.

How do you use suffix in a sentence?

What is a suffix and how do you use them?

A suffix is a letter or a group of letters added to the end of a word to alter its meaning or to ensure it fits grammatically into a sentence. Suffixes (added to the back of words) contrast with prefixes (added to the front).

What is a suffix example?

A suffix is a letter or group of letters, for example ‘-ly’ or ‘-ness,’ which is added to the end of a word in order to form a different word, often of a different word class. For example, the suffix ‘-ly’ is added to ‘quick’ to form ‘quickly. ‘ Compare affix and , prefix.

How do you use a prefix suffix?

With prefixes, the start of the word will change. So if the prefix ends in a vowel, such as “a-“, a root word starting with a consonant will use it as it is, for example “atypical”. But if the root words starts with vowel as well, then a consonant is added in. With suffixes, the end of the word may change.

35 related questions found

Prefixes and suffixes are a really common part of the English language – you’ll be using them a lot! So learning how to use them correctly will help you boost your language skills enormously.

But what exactly are prefixes and suffixes?

And how can you use them? Let’s find out!

What is a prefix?

A prefix is a part of a word that can be joined with another word, called the “root” word, to give it a different meaning. Sometimes it can just be a simple letter that acts as a prefix – but sometimes it is a lengthier word.

Prefixes can change the meaning of the root word in all kinds of ways – and there are lots of different prefixes. As you develop your vocabulary, you will probably start to pick up words naturally which use prefixes – without even realising you’re using them!

So here are some of the most common prefixes used – and how they can change the root word:

Bi- : the prefix “bi-“ means “two”, so is added at the start of a word to indicated that there are two of something in it, for example “bicycle” means it is cycle with 2 wheels.

Chron(o)- : “Chron” comes from the Greek for time, “chromos”, so it might not be surprising to see that this is related to time if you have “chron” in front of a word, for example “chronology”.

Ex- : “ex” means former, so this is used to indicate that something had a former relationship, that doesn’t exist any more, for example, “ex-wife”.

Un: — “Un” is used to create a negative of the root word, to show that something is not like it, or has been taken away from it, such as “unbelievable”.

What is a suffix?

Similar to a prefix, a suffix is used at the end of a word, and will change the meaning of it too.

But unlike a prefix, the change is usually a bit more subtle – rather than turning a word into its opposite or adding another aspect of meaning to it, a suffix will change the class of a word – for example, from a verb to an adjective.

Makes sense? Let’s take a look at some popular suffixes for a closer look!

-er : The suffix “er” can be added onto a verb, to make a noun that describes something that performs the verb, for example “runner” describes someone who runs.

-ness : The suffix “ness” can be added on to make an adjective that describes a state of being, for example, “happiness”.

Some points to note

Sometimes the spelling of a word will change to accommodate the prefix or suffix.

With prefixes, the start of the word will change. So if the prefix ends in a vowel, such as “a-“, a root word starting with a consonant will use it as it is, for example “atypical”. But if the root words starts with vowel as well, then a consonant is added in.

With suffixes, the end of the word may change. If the word ends in an ‘e’ then you do not use a double ‘e’ – you only use one – for example: “drive” becomes “driver” with the suffix “-er”.

If the word ends in a ‘y’ then you replace the ‘y’ with an ‘’i”, for example “happy” becomes “happily” with the suffix “ily”.

Your turn

You will come across the many different suffixes and prefixes used in English the more you use it, so try to read and practice as widely as possible! Look out for them in your everyday activities, and see if you can spot the root word in each example.

Suffixes and Prefixes are described along with the definition, meaning, examples, list, rules, uses, etc. All the concepts will be cleared in this session. There are an ever-increasing number of words in the English language. In addition to enhancing your vocabulary, learning new words can be overwhelming. However, if you know English prefixes and suffixes, you will learn many new words and gain a greater understanding of language.

It’s like learning a code when you master common prefixes and suffixes. Having cracked the code, you can not only spell words more accurately, but also recognize and perhaps even define unfamiliar words as well. Let’s explore Suffixes and Prefixes!

Let’s try to understand the basics of suffix and prefixes with examples.

Suffix and Prefix Basics

The English vocabulary is vast! We all know that, don’t we? But without an extensive stock of vocabulary, how can you improve your skills with the language? Well, expanding your vocabulary is not an easy task; you need to read a lot before your stock of words will reach a certain level.

• But what if you get some tricks to not only effectively use the language but also expand your vocabulary rapidly?
• Sounds interesting?

Well, this is exactly what you can do with suffix and prefix. So what are they exactly, and how do they function?

The Function of Suffix and Prefix

This is exactly what this post is all about. Thanks to the nature of the English language, just adding two letters before or after a particular word can change the meaning of the original word and create a new word altogether. These extra letters that you can add before or after any particular words are called suffix and prefix. But can you add these letters for every word in the English language?

In this post, we are going to find out all these answers regarding suffix and prefix. Read on as we talk about the definition, rules, and examples of suffix and prefix and how you can use them to expand your vocabulary. So without any further ado, let’s get started.

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What is The Definition Of Suffix And Prefix?

Well, before we move on to the definition of suffix and prefix, you need to understand where they occur in a word? Usually, the suffix and prefix will be added as per the root of every word. Now, the question arises what a root of a word is?

Well, to put it simply, a root of a word is nothing but the shortest base form of a word. For example, if we take the word ‘Video’, the root of the word is ‘vid’. The suffix and prefix will be added to the root of the word. This is how the meaning of the word will be determined after the change.

Suffix and Prefix with Examples

Let’s try to understand suffix and prefix with examples!

Let’s know about word formation before suffix and prefix.

Define Word Formation

A derivation and composition process results in words in a language. This is known as Word Formation.

Define Suffix: What is Suffix?

Suffixes form new words by adding a prefix to a root word, except they are added at the end of the root word. By adding a suffix to the root word, one can change the meaning of that word slightly, but only a little, not opposite or negative as prefixes do, instead, one can change the class of the word, as in making a verb an adjective. 

Suffix refers to the group of letters that sits after the word and alters the meaning or qualifies the meaning of the original word. Like for example, ‘able’ is a suffix that can be used with the word ‘comfort’, and together they make ‘comfortable’, which qualifies the meaning of the original word.

So, comfort + able = comfortable.

Hence, ‘able’ is a suffix here.

Define Prefix: What is Prefix?

A prefix is a word that is added to the beginning of a root for the formation of a new word. There is no meaning to a prefix word on its own, but when added to a root word it changes its meaning. Prefixes make words negative, indicate opinions, or show repetition.

Prefix denotes the group of letters that sits before a word based on the root and alters or qualifies the meaning of the original word. For example, ‘de’ is a prefix that can be used with the word ‘code’, and together they form the opposite of the original word ‘decode’.

In case of uncomfortable, we see that un + comfortable = uncomfortable.

Here, ‘un’ is a prefix. Are you still not clear about the concept? Let’s take a look at some other examples.

Prefix Examples

Prefix examples are as follows,

• Non, un, im, in, il, ir = not, opposite = Nonsense, invalid, unhappy, unchanged.
• Re- = again = redo, replay, revisit.
• Mis = wrongly, not = misunderstand, misguide.
• De = reverse, remove = Deconstruct, destruct, detonate.
• Co, com, con = with, together = Compute, construct, contrive.
• Dis, dif, di = separation, away = Disbelief, Disown, Disorder, dissect.

Suffix Examples

Suffix examples are as follows,

• Er, or = showing comparison = Donner, teacher, cheater.
• Able, Ible = capable = Respectable, Formidable, Credible.
• D, ed = forming the past tense = Respected, Cheated, Fired, Aggravated.
• Ing = continuous tense = Running, Eating, Fighting, Working.
• Ment = State of result = Disappointment, Appointment.
• Ive = having the quality = Decisive, Creative, Divisive.

Check a NICE VIDEO from Shaw English Online,

Importance of Prefix & Suffix

You will be able to get through the Verbal Ability section of Competitive exams with ease if you are familiar with the usage of prefixes and suffixes in English. The English section of most government exams is considered a common and important part of the exam. To master the English section one needs to have a good grasp of English vocabulary and word formation. 

It aims therefore to provide knowledge on the formation of words in the English language by using examples to illustrate how prefixes and suffixes work. Additionally, you will be able to download the list of prefixes and suffixes for your own reference. 

Basic Rules for Suffix and Prefix

Always remember that neither suffix nor prefix can be used with every word. So before you use them, you need to keep in mind certain aspects. Below, I am listing them for your better understanding.

Suffix Rules

Rule#1: While using a suffix, you need to understand that sometimes they can have multiple meanings.

• For example, the suffix ‘er’. Sitting after the word, it can refer to the person who does the activity.
• Like ‘a dancer, a singer’. Sometimes, they can help establish a comparison as well, like ‘ faster, weaker, lower’.

Rule#2: When the suffix is used, sometimes, it can change the spelling of the word.

• For example, when the ‘ing’ suffix is used, the spelling of the word is bound to be changed.
• Like for ‘running. Swimming, fighting’. Another similar example can be ‘iness’ which is often applicable for words ending with ‘y’. In that case, ‘y’ is replaced by ‘I’.

Suffixes are also similar in meaning to many prefixes. In like manner with the suffix, ‘er’ indicates the action performed by a person when added to a word such as Teachers, gardeners, performers, etc. Comparative adjectives and adverbs are also modified by adding the suffix ‘er’. Fast is shortened to faster and soon becomes sooner, etc.

The spelling of the base word can change when a suffix is added. In general, these are the base words ending in y or e. For example, happy becomes happier, costly becomes costlier with the suffix ‘er’, manage become managing, make become making with the suffix ‘ing’.

Prefix Rules

Rule#1: Many prefixes also mean the same. Like for example, un-, in-, and non mean the same as ‘mis’ and ‘ir’.

Rule#2: Sometimes using the prefix changes the spelling by introducing double letters. Like for example, ‘unnatural’ ‘unnoticeable’.

Rule#3: Using the prefix will never alter the root of the original word. This is very important. Like for example, if you take the word ‘Live’ and add the prefix ‘re’, it will be ‘relive’, keeping the root of the word intact.

A hyphen (-) should be used when adding a prefix to a common noun. Examples include Pro-American or Anti-Religion. 

After self- and ex-prefixes, hyphen must be used, for example, self-desirable, self-disciplined, ex-husband, ex-employee etc.

If you add a prefix, you should not change the spelling of the original word or root word; for example: undo, disappear, irrelevant, cooperation, irrational, etc.

When adding a prefix, letters can be repeated.

Prefixes that end with an ‘a’ are used as they are, like atypical, amoral, etc. With prefixes that end with a vowel, the base word will use it as it is.

Following point number 3 (don’t change spelling) is generally recommended even if it results in double consonants after adding the prefix.

The word Uncle begins with a prefix, but it does not have a prefix added to it.

There are many prefixes that can mean the same thing, such as ‘in’, ‘im’, ‘un’ all of these prefixes mean ‘opposite of’ or ‘not’.

List of Suffixes and Prefixes

Suffixes and prefixes lists are tabulated,

Prefixes List

Prefix	Meaning	Examples
anti-	against,	antibiotic,
auto-	self	autobiography
co-	with	co-operation
de-	down	decrease
dis-	opposite of,	disagree, disapprove
ex-	former,	ex-president,
extra-	beyond,	extraordinary,
il-,	not	illegal,
im-,	not	impossible,
In-	not	indefinite
ir-	not	irresponsible,
in-	into	insert,
inter-,	between	interact,
micro-	small	microscope,
mis-	wrongly	mistake,
mono-	one,	monotone,
para-	beside	parachute,
post-	after	postpone,
pre-	before	prefix,
re-	again	react
semi-	half	semicircle,
super-	over	superfood,
therm-	heat	thermodynamics
trans-	across,	transport,
tri-	three	triangle
un-	against	unusual

Suffixes List

Suffix	Meaning	Examples
-al	Related or action	annual, criminal
-able	able to,	remarkable
-dom	state	freedom
-ence	quality	ambience
-er	in comparison	bigger,
-est	superlative	heaviest
-fy	make	justify
-ful	full of	houseful
-ible	to form adjective	terrible
-ily	To form adverb	happily,
-ing	action	driving
-ist	Person who acts	psychologist
-less	without,	Fearless, helpless
-ness	to express the state	hardness
-tion	state	position
-y	to express condition	noisy

Why Do You Need To Learn And Practice Suffix And Prefix?

As mentioned earlier as well, learning suffixes and prefixes will not only help you understand the grammatical elements better but will also help you expand your vocabulary too.

Keep in mind that suffix and prefix can only be used for certain words. Hence, you need to practice regularly to master the concept. Plus, as for everything related to English grammar, the more you read, the more you will learn. The same can be said for suffix and prefix as well.

• So, from now on, whenever you will read something in English, try to locate the words that are using suffixes or prefixes.
• Firstly, it will help you understand the usage better and refer to the points I have mentioned above about using them.
• Apart from that, you can also note down the words in a copy. This can be a great practice to improve your vocabulary and learn new words.

Conclusion

So, what else would you like to know about suffix and prefix? Should you have any further queries about them, then reach out to us, and we will surely get back to you to the best of our knowledge. Further Study you can refer below:

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