Words ending in -ance, -ancy, -ence or -ency
In a nutshell
The suffixes '-ance', '-ancy', '-ence' and '-ency' are used to form nouns. Words with these endings often sound very similar but they are spelt differently. Words ending in '-ance' and '-ence' sound like 'unce' and words ending in '-ancy' and '-ency' sound like 'uncy'.
The suffixes '-ence' and 'ency'
The suffixes '-ence' and '-ency' are often used in nouns following a soft 'c', 'g' or 'qu' sound.
Examples
-ence
| -ency |
| Innocence
| Decency
|
| Indulgence
| Emergency
|
| Sequence
| Frequency |
Verbs ending with '-ere'
The '-ence' suffix is used to change verbs ending in '-ere' into nouns. The final 'e' is removed and '-ence' is added.
Examples
| Cohere becomes coherence.
| Adhere becomes adherence.
|
Adjectives ending with '-ent'
The '-ence' suffix is also used to change adjectives ending in '-ent' into nouns.
Examples
| Evident becomes evidence.
| Patient becomes patience.
| Confident becomes confidence.
|
The suffixes '-ance' and '-ancy'
The '-ance' and '-ancy' suffixes are used following most other sounds, but there are lots of words which don't follow any of the rules and these spellings must simply be learnt. However, if the base word is an adjective ending with '-ant', or a verb ending with '-ate', the '-ance' or '-ancy' suffixes are most likely used.
Examples
-ance
| -ancy
|
| Significant becomes significance.
| Expectant becomes expectancy.
|
| Acceptant becomes acceptance.
| Infant becomes infancy. |
| Tolerate becomes tolerance. | Hesitate becomes hesitancy. |
Verbs ending with '-ure' and '-ear'
When the root word is a verb ending with '-ure' or '-ear', the '-ance' suffix is used to form a noun.
Examples
| Insure becomes insurance.
| Clear becomes clearance.
| Disappear becomes disappearance.
|
Verbs ending with 'y'
When the root word is a verb that ends in 'y', the '-ance' suffix is used to form a noun. The 'y' at the end of the verb usually changes to an 'i'.
Examples
| Rely becomes reliance. | Defy becomes defiance.
| Apply becomes appliance.
|
Tip: Lots of words do not follow these rules and you must simply learn how to spell them!
