-ible or -able
Many words end in -ible or -able. Sometimes it is difficult to remember which spelling to use.
The -ible ending is for words of Latin origin. There are about 180 words ending in -ible. No new words are being created with -ible endings.
| The most common -ible endings | ||
|---|---|---|
| accessible admissible audible collapsible combustible compatible comprehensible contemptible credible defensible destructible digestible divisible edible fallible |
flexible gullible horrible illegible implausible inaccessible incontrovertible incredible indefensible indelible inedible insensible intelligible invincible invisible |
illegible irresistible irreversible ostensible permissible plausible possible responsible reversible sensible susceptible suggestible tangible terrible visible |
The -able ending is for:
- some Latin words, for example:
dependable - non-Latin words, for example:
affordable, renewable, washable - new (modern) words, for example:
networkable, windsurfable
Rule of thumb
This rule can help you decide the correct spelling. It works most (but not all!) of the time. Remember, if you are not sure about a word, it is probably best to use a dictionary. Here is the rule:
- If you remove -able from a word, you are left with a complete word (renewable, renew).
- If you remove -ible from a word, you are not left with a complete word (sensible,
sens). But note that accessible, contemptible, digestible, flexible and suggestible are among the exceptions to this rule.
Test yourself with this -ible/-able spelling quiz