Public Services and Procurement Canada
Symbol of the Government of Canada

Institutional Links

 

Important notice

Writing Tips has been archived and won’t be updated before it is permanently deleted.

For the most up-to-date content, please consult Writing Tips Plus, which combines content from Writing Tips and The Canadian Style. And don’t forget to update your bookmarks!

Search Canada.ca
To begin your search, go to the alphabetical index below and click on the first letter of the word you are searching for.

spelling: words ending in y

In words ending in y preceded by a consonant, change the y to i before a suffix, unless the suffix itself begins with i:

  • heavy, heaviest
  • lively, livelihood
  • salary, salaried
  • necessary, necessarily

But when the suffix begins with i, retain the y:

  • copy, copyist
  • fly, flying
  • deny, denying
  • try, trying

Note the distinction between dryer (something or someone that dries) and drier (the comparative of dry).

Words ending in y preceded by a vowel generally retain the y before a suffix:

  • annoy, annoyance, annoying
  • pay, payable, paying