Word Formation

New words are formed in English through several processes.

A) Affixation

Adding a prefix (before the root) or suffix (after the root) to a word.

Prefixes:

• un + happy = unhappy
• dis + agree = disagree
• re + write = rewrite
• mis + understand = misunderstand

Suffixes:

• teach + er = teacher
• kind + ness = kindness
• quick + ly = quickly
• create + ion = creation

B) Compounding

Joining two or more words to make a new word.

• book + shelf = bookshelf
• sun + flower = sunflower
• tooth + paste = toothpaste
• black + board = blackboard

C) Clipping

Shortening a word by removing part of it.

• advertisement → ad
• examination → exam
• photograph → photo
• laboratory → lab
• television → TV
• mobile phone → mobile

D) Back Formation

Creating a new word by removing what looks like a suffix from an existing word.

• editor → edit
• television → televise
• donation → donate
• babysitter → babysit