Table 1. The most common prefixes in the KS3 spelling lists

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Almost all these words are originally derived from Latin (the asterisked words are exceptions), which illustrates clearly the special problems posed by the technical Latin-based vocabulary used in many school subjects.

Basic

Form

Variant

Forms

Original

Meaning

Words in the KS3 spelling lists

con-

col-

con-

cor-

together,

with

collage, collection, combustion, commandment, commitment, communication, comparison, component, composition, computer, concentration, conclusion, condensation, conductor, conflict, conjunction, connect, conscience, conscious, consequence, consonant, constitution, content, continuous, contour

dis-

apart, away

disappear, disappoint, disassemble, discipline, discussion, disease*, disperse, display, dissolve, distil

ex-

ef-

e-

out

effect, effort, emigration, emotion, evaluation, evaporation, exchange, exclamation, exercise, exhibition, exit, explanation, expression, extract

in-

il-

im-

in

illusion, immigrant, impasto, improvise, ingredient, injury, innovation, input, insect, inspire, instrument, invasion, involve

per-

through

percussion, perform, performance, permanent, perpendicular, personal, personification, perspective, persuade, persuasion

pre-

before

prefer, preference, prefix, prejudice, preparation, preposition, presentation, preview, represent, representative

pro-

for

process, processor, production, program, propaganda, prophet, proportion, proposition, protein*, protestant, provision

re-

again, back

reaction, receive, reference, rehearsal*, relationship, relay, relevant, relief, religion, remember, represent, representative, reproduce, research, resolution, resources, respire, revolt, reward*