Reading and Spelling Q & A

Question 1:
I understand that the consonant needs to be doubled in little, giggle, etc to keep the first vowel short (lit-tle, gig-gle). But in the word “i-ci-cle”, what keeps the second i short? Same in au-di-ble. Or are these just one of those exceptions to the rule (i.e. Jail word?).

My Answer:
i can make the short i or schwa sound in unaccented open syllables - as in pre-si-dent, au-di-ble, in-ci-dent, multiply, editor, dignity, imitate, etc.

Question 2:
On words like flammable and terrible, why two m’s and r’s there?

My Answer:
There is an extension of the doubling rule - if the last syllable is accented and is a 1-1-1 syllable, the final consonant is doubled if the suffix begins with a vowel.

The final consonant is not double if:
- the final syllable is not accented
- the last syllable is accented, but it does not end in a consonant after a vowel
- the suffix begins with a consonant

admitting, forgotten, excelled

The accent is a bit tougher on the two particular words in question and they don't exactly fit the extension of the doubling rule like the other examples. . .

terr is a latin root - latin roots usually get the accent

flame is the root of the word flammable - thus that is the syllable that would have the accent and you would double the consonant before adding the suffix.

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