What is the "consonant doubling" rule?

The "consonant doubling" rule is a spelling convention in English that involves doubling the final consonant of a one-syllable word or a multi-syllable word when certain conditions are met. This rule is typically applied when adding a suffix to a word. The purpose of doubling the consonant is to indicate a specific pronunciation and to maintain the original short vowel sound in the preceding syllable.

The rule can be summarized as follows:

1. One-Syllable Words:

   • If a one-syllable word has a single vowel followed by a single consonant, and the vowel is short (i.e., it is a single-letter vowel like a, e, i, o, or u), the final consonant is doubled before adding a suffix that begins with a vowel.

     Examples:

     • hop + ing = hopping
     • run + er = runner
     • jog + ed = jogged

2. Single Vowel, Single Consonant, and Stressed Final Syllable in Multi-syllable Words:

   • If a multi-syllable word has a stressed final syllable with a single vowel followed by a single consonant, and the vowel is short, the final consonant is doubled before adding a suffix that begins with a vowel.

     Examples:

     • refer + ing = referring
     • prefer + ed = preferred
     • occur + ence = occurrence

It's important to note that this rule generally applies to words in which the vowel is short. In contrast, when the vowel is long (i.e., it says its name or is followed by a silent e), the consonant is not doubled.

Examples where the consonant is not doubled:

• hate + ful = hateful
• use + ing = using
• hope + less = hopeless

Keep in mind that there are exceptions and variations to this rule, and irregularities exist in English spelling. However, understanding the consonant doubling rule can be a helpful guide for correct spelling in many cases.