Writing Book 7 · Lesson 8

Abbreviations and affixes — bring the words back

A word part carries a fixed meaning, and it carries it into every word it joins.

The words

inter-
between
trans-
across
counter-
against
multi-
many
anti-
opposed to
post-
after
semi-
half
-ology
the study of
-ity
the quality of
e.g.
for example

Watch how it is built

1inter- means about the same as between.
International trade grew.
2trans- means about the same as across.
Transport moves goods across land.
3counter- means about the same as against.
He made a counter-argument.

Two ways to say it

✗ International trade grew. — this is not wrong, but it is everyday talk.

✓ International trade grew. — this is how a writer says it.

Ask yourself: “What does this part mean everywhere else I have seen it?”

Remember

Inter-, trans-, counter-, multi- — parts you will meet a thousand times.

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