3.16 Words ending in ise and ize

The following are the only common words ending in ise:

• advertise
• advise
• apprise
• arise
• chastise
• circumcise
• comprise
• compromise
• demise
• despise
• devise
• disguise
• enterprise
• excise
• exercise
• franchise
• guise
• improvise
• incise
• merchandise
• mortise
• premise
• reprise
• revise
• supervise
• surmise
• surprise
• televise

To this list should be added all words with wise as a suffix.

Note that the suffix ise cannot be replaced with ize in this group.

Use the suffix ize for most other words, including civilize, criticize, italicize, itemize, memorize and organize.

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