Spelling rule for canoe?

[makaveli]

Hi all,

Can you please tell me why when the word canoe is changed to canoeing the usual rule in regard dropping the "e" doesn't apply?

I guessed it's because of the ending double vowel but wasn't sure.

Many thanks


M.

[BobK]

Hi all,

Can you please tell me why when the word canoe is changed to canoeing the usual rule in regard dropping the "e" doesn't apply?

I guessed it's because of the ending double vowel but wasn't sure.

Many thanks


M.

I'm not a great one for rules, so I don't know which one you mean. If you mean the one that affects such pairs as time/timing, tame/taming, cite/citing then the answer is that the rule should specify that it applies to words in which a final E changes the sound of a vowel preceding a final consonant (as in Tim/time); this does not apply to canoe for two reasons. There is no intervening consonant, and there is no vowel change; "oe" just represents the single vowel sound /u:/.*

But as I implied at the beginning, there are teachers who would have a much clearer idea of the rule concerned.

b
* Note for Francophones: in English this is a single vowel, unlike the French "oë".

[Soup]

Agreed.

Find out when and why e is dropped, Resource Room Spelling: Dropping Silent E when Adding a Suffix

[makaveli]

Thank you for the replies. After referring to one of my grammar books I realize I was getting confused with the rule for verbs!

Now I have checked the listed website it's somewhat clearer. Slightly more difficult to get across to 10 year olds however!


M.