Grammar: Prefix

A prefix is a handy little group of letters — a bound morpheme which occurs before a root, a.k.a. an unbound morpheme, that enables you to create alternative meanings from existing words. It is part of what contributes to the precision and richness of English.

The prefix generally allows its root word to retain its base meaning while fine-tuning it to be more specific.

Consider the word decorated and all sorts of possibilities it raises. Husbands think ick, work . . . painting the room, spending money on new furniture, please don’t let her do frilly, etc. Wives think paint colors, textures, roman blinds versus balloon shades.

Now consider underdecorated. Sparsely furnished. White walls. No pillows. No pictures.

The other extreme is overdecorated with frilly ruffles, lots of lace, 18,000 pillows on the bed, so much furniture you can’t move. Or maybe it’s gilt everywhere with tons of crushed velvet and Elvis paintings. Three completely different images involving decorate that depend upon the prefix used.

Grammar Explanations is . . .

. . . an evolving list of the structural rules and principles that determines where words are placed in phrases or sentences as well as how the language is spoken. Sometimes I run across an example that helps explain better or another “also known as”. Heck, there’s always a better way to explain it, so if it makes quicker and/or better sense, I would appreciate suggestions and comments from anyone on an area of grammar with which you struggle or on which you can contribute more understanding.

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Prefix
Definition: A letter or group of letters that is put or attached to the front of a word and not in the middle (an infix) or the end (a suffix) of a word to create a new word or intensify meaning. The opposite of a suffix. Affix is a general term for infix, prefix, and suffix. POST CONTENTS: Partial List of Prefixes To Hyphenate or Not to Hyphenate Don’t Double Up a Vowel To Capitalize or Not Use an En Dash with a Compound Word Confusing Homographs Augmentative Prefix
Partial List of Prefixes
Prefixes that feature a dotted underline are combined forms. a- 1 all- 2 ante- anti- auto- bi- co- counter- cyber- de- extra- 2 half- 2 hyper- hypo- infra- inter- intra- macro- mega- meta- micro- mid- mini- multi- neo- non- out- over- para- post- pre- pro- proto- pseudo- quasi- 2 re- self- 2 semi- socio- sub- super- supra- trans- tri- ultra- un- under- 1 An old particle that means in the act of. 2 Technically, these form compound words, but use hyphens and not en dashes. Return to top or post contents
To Hyphenate or Not to Hyphenate
Rule: The current tendency is to eliminate the hyphen between a prefix and a root word unless: A vowel would double up Goes against the usual spelling (yup, if in doubt, check a dictionary) Root word is a proper noun or adjective Homographs
Current Practice	Don’t Double Up a Vowel
allspice midthirties antiwar midcareer coauthor overdecorated defoliate postgraduate extracurricular selfhood extramural selfless halfhearted selfsame halfway supermarket hyperresonant ultrahigh hypoactive unnamed infrared unselfconscious [CMOS] macrocosm unself-conscious [Webster] microbrew Return to top or post contents	extra-administrative extra-articular intra-abdominal supra-auditory ultra-atomic anti-independence anti-inflammatory anti-insurgency anti-intellectual anti-itch
Exceptions include:
Rule: Compound words which use a hyphen and not an en dash	Rule: You may double up the vowels on the following prefixes:
all-around all-embracing half-asleep half-blooded half-dollar self-conscious self-control self-destructive self-restraint self-realization self-seeking self-sustaining	co- cooperative cooperator coordinate de- demulsification deexcite pre- preeclampsia preelect preemergence preemploy preestablish preexamine preexistent pro- proopiomelanocortin prootic prooxidant re- reelect reeligible reembark reemergent reemphasize reenactment
Rule: . . . with Adjectives
quasi-judicial quasi-public
Rule: Noun compounds are open with no prefix
quasi corporation quasi scholar
Rule: Certain words are expected to be hyphenated. If you question whether it should or should not be hyphenated, check the dictionary.
co-op co-opt co-worker Return to top or post contents
To Capitalize or Not
Rule: When attached to a capitalized word, prefixes are capped when part of a specific name and not capped when added to proper nouns or adjectives. Return to top or post contents
Part of a Specific Name	Added to Proper Names/Adjectives
Anti-Lebanon Mountains Neo-Christianity Neo-Hebraic Pan-American Pan-Slavic Neo-Impressionism Return to top or post contents	ante-Norman anti-French ex-Senator post-Regency pre-Christian pro-American un-Platonic
Use an En Dash with a Compound Word
Rule: Use an en dash when using a prefix on a compound word
pre–Revolutionary War post–World War II
Exceptions include:
Antiremonstrant Precambrian postexilic transatlantic Neoplatonism unplatonic transpacific Return to top or post contents
Confusing Homographs
Rule: Use a hyphen between prefix and homograph IF the context isn’t enough to prevent confusion. For example, repose means rest while re-pose indicates that someone or something needs to be moved or a sentence needs to be reworded.
react re-act repose re-pose really re-ally represent re-present recollect re-collect research re-search recover re-cover reserve re-serve recreate re-create resign re-sign reform re-form resolve re-solve release re-lease resound re-sound remark re-mark restore re-store Return to top or post contents
Augmentative Prefix
Definition: A word or affix that indicates a greater intensity or size and are the opposite of diminutives. It can also imply awkwardness or unattractiveness. In some languages, augmentatives may be used for comical effect or as pejoratives.
Prefix Root Word Final Word arch- angel rival archangel archrival grand- master mother grandmaster grandmother hyper- sensitive sonic hypersensitive hypersonic mega- star store megastar megastore over- lord qualified overlord overqualified super- food man superfood superman über- geek mensch ubergeek ubermensch

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C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!

Satisfy your curiosity about other Grammar Explanations by exploring its homepage or more generally explore the index of self-editing posts. You may also want to explore Book Layout & Formatting Ideas, Formatting Tips, Grammar Explanations, Linguistics, Publishing Tips, the Properly Punctuated, Word Confusions, Writing Ideas and Resources, and Working Your Website.

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Resources for Prefix

Some of these links may be affiliate links, and I will earn a small percentage, if you should buy it. It does not affect the price you pay.

Chicago Manual of Style. p 7.9.

“English Language Roots Chart.” Prefix-Suffix. n.d. Web. n.d. <http://www.prefixsuffix.com/rootchart.php>. A handy chart that lists and explains the more common prefixes to base words and is a small part of their 2,000 word root database which is searchable using their root search engine.

Skillin, Marjorie E., Robert M. Gay, and other authorities. Words into Type. Third edition. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc: 1974. <https://amzn.to/3YCK74z&g; Print. 168, 223-224.

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Kathy Davie’s own creation.

Revised as of 18 Oct 2024
By: Kathy Davie