Final _y_ is regularly changed to _i_ when a syllable is
added. In plurals it is changed to _ies,_ except when preceded by a
vowel, when a simple _s_ is added without change of the _y_.
Examples: _clumsy, clumsily_; _city, cities_; _chimney, chimneys_.
We have _colloquies_ because _u_ after _q_ has the value of the
consonant _w_. There are a few exceptions to the above rule. When two
_i_'s would come together, the _y_ is not changed, as in _carrying_.
Rule 12. Words ending, in a double consonant commonly retain the double
consonant in derivatives. The chief exception is _all,_ which drops one
_l,_ as in _almighty, already, although,_ etc. According to English
usage other words ending in double _l_ drop one _l_ in derivatives,
and we have _skilful_ (for _skillful_), _wilful_ (for _willful_), etc.,
but Webster does not approve this custom. _Ful_ is an affix,
not the word _full_ in a compound.
EXCEPTIONS AND IRREGULARITIES.
1. Though in the case of simple words ending in a double consonant the
derivatives usually retain the double consonant, _pontific_ and
_pontifical_ (from _pontiff_) are exceptions, and when three letters of
the same kind would come together, one is usually dropped, as in
_agreed_ (_agree_ plus _ed_), _illy_ (_ill_ plus _ly_), _belless,_ etc.
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