Questions tagged [negative-prefixes]
The negative-prefixes tag has no usage guidance.
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Is "[...]by only no state-prison offenses correct[...]?
In the first chapter of Walden, Economy, Thoreau writes:
It is very evident what mean and sneaking lives many of you live, for my
sight has been whetted by experience; always on the limits, trying to ...
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Is "inauthentic" inauthentic?
"Inauthentic" is more commonly used than "unauthentic", at least these days, but they are both valid. Several sources (World Wide Words for example) suggest what prefix the ...
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Why is it some adjectives don't seem to accept negative prefixes and only are used with the negative adverb "not"?
I am specifically thinking of the word angry. If un- is generally used as a negative prefix applied to words of Germanic origin, why not angry, since I believe it comes from Old Norse? Is there a rule ...
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Negating prefixes in implied repetition of adjective
Although his argument is incorrect, his grammar is [not].
Here, my intuition says we need the "not" to form the double negative "not incorrect". But a person I'm arguing with ...
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How far can one go in creating new words?
Apparently the word disturbingly exists, but undisturbingly doesn't. However, I felt it better served to convey my meaning and was sure that any reader would understand what I mean. I also put it ...
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Why is the "r" doubled in "arrhythmia"? [duplicate]
Why is the "r" doubled in "arrhythmia" relative to "rhythmia"?
I'm guessing it's because English resists hyphenation of prefixes and suffixes ("a-rhythmia"), ...
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How to hyphenate "non self destructive"?
Non self-destructive
Non-self destructive
Non-self-destructive
Which one is correct?
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Differences in antonyms of "balance" with negative prefixes
Most words only have one correct negative prefix out of "in-", "im-", and "un-". Why are both "imbalance" and "unbalance" both grammatically correct (but "inbalance" is not")? What are differences in ...
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Transcription and pronunciation of the 'un-' prefix in General American English
What's the correct transcription and pronunciation of the 'un-' prefix in General American English?
Cambridge Online dictionary provides the following transcription: /ʌn/
It's the same in words with ...
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Prefixes reversing the meaning of the base word
Is there a name for words whose meaning can be 'reversed' by adding a prefix?
What I mean is words like unlikely, impossible, dissimilarity , which include a prefix that causes the meaning to be ...
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Disorganized or Unorganized?
Does anyone here know the difference between unorganized and disorganized?
As far as I know, disorganized refers to something that was once organized and now isn't, and unorganized refers to ...
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Service will be 'unavailable Saturday' vs '...unavailable on Saturday' [duplicate]
I want to perfect this system message the most I can and am over-thinking the use of the proper words.
Is it better to say "Email will be unavailable Saturday 12/29 from 5 PM to 9 PM" or "Email will ...
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Is there a reason for the prefix change of in-/un- in about the 60s period for these words?
I was looking up words beginning with prefix in-, the prefix meaning "opposite" or "negative". There is a pattern I've noticed, namely the one mentioned on Online Etymology Dictionary:
The rule of ...
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Is there a prefix to denote neutrality?
English has prefixes to denote opposition as well as absence.
For example:
'gnostic' vs 'agnostic' (having knowledge vs absence of knowledge)
'social' vs 'asocial' vs 'anti social' (being social, ...
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What are the subtle differences between nonarticulate, unarticulate, inarticulate, & misarticulate?
Dictionary.com lists these words as related to articulate:
Related forms
ar·tic·u·la·ble [ahr-tik-yuh-luh-buhl] /ɑrˈtɪk yə lə bəl/, adjective
ar·tic·u·late·ly, adverb
ar·tic·u·late·ness, ar·...
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How did English get related words from the same Latin root but different negative prefixes?
I see that there is no consistent rule in English for which words use which negative prefix, but in‐ is generally for Latin roots and un‐ is generally for Germanic roots. However, I find it especially ...
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"Insignificant" or "unsignificant"?
In my job I test different versions of varying degrees on websites. Basically A vs B, and the results of this test determine which version should be developed.
The way a winner is chosen is by ...
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Nonionic or non-ionic? [closed]
which is more correct or more frequently used? Nonionic or non-ionic (polymers)? It´s for an academic presentation.
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Difference between “disbelief” and “non-belief”
How should one use the words disbelief and non-belief especially when it relates to the belief in god?
Consider these prefixes:
Disbeliever of god
Non-believer of god
Do they have different meanings?...
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Nadir or zenith of unprofessionalism?
In some other stackexchange group, someone used the words "nadir of unprofessionalism" to express that in his opinion, some behaviour was very, very unprofessional.
Now "nadir" is the lowest point, ...
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Polysemous prefix 'un-'
The prefix 'un-' is polysemous. Its meaning depends on the word class of the root/stem it is being attached to: for verbs the meaning has a "reversible" effect and for adjectives it has a "negated" or ...
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how to use "non" or "no" together with a substantive to make an adjective
I'm trying to describe in a few words the idea of a sign (as a banner, a poster etc.) without any text on it, but only pictures.
Can I use the phrase "non-text" as an adjective? Or maybe "no-text"?
...
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Why do so many prefixes mean "Not"
While trying to think of a brief list of English prefixes that mean "not" or "opposite to" in some way, I was wondering why so many exist. As English has roots in so many languages, I was hoping ...
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DIScomfort yet UNcomfortable
Why is the negation of comfort discomfort but the opposite of comfortable is uncomfortable? Or is the word "discomfortable" accepted too?
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What do you call a pair of words with opposite meanings that differ only by a prefix?
In general, words with opposite meanings are called antonyms. Is there a word that describes the subset of antonyms that are different only by a prefix where the prefix negates the meaning of the ...
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Deprivation and privation
"Deprivation" and "privation" seem to have the same meaning: the denial of material essentials or comforts. Isn't the prefix "de-" redundant? Is there a difference, either in literal usage or ...
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Is “Untap” an equivalent of “Unleash?”
While attempting to assist another user on another Stack Exchange site I stumbled upon this marketing page for the Samsung SSD 850 EVO that—to my mind—oddly states:
Untap your computer’s potential
...
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Is there a better verb than "unignore"?
I am wondering if there is a word that is a verb and describes an operation that is the opposite of ignoring, but not in the sense of appreciate. I want a short way to describe the operation that ...
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Undeletable vs Indeletable [closed]
Why do we say undeletable instead of indeletable. Sometimes with other words we use an in prefix, such as with indefatigable.
I'm curious about un vs in.
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"Dis-" prefix meaning and etymology [closed]
Most native speakers are used to "dis-" as a prefix having a negative or opposite connotation (disengaged, dissatisfied, disinterested). However, in rare cases, "dis-" is actually an amplifying prefix,...
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Prefixes for the opposite of "perishable": unperishable, non-perishable, imperishable [closed]
Unperishable, non-perishable or imperishable? I'm quite confused about which prefix is used for the opposite of perishable. If more than one is used, what are the differences between them? Searching ...
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Does "unrenamed" mean "not yet renamed"?
I am writing a software and the following description cannot be more than 15-20 characters long. I need to concisely say
“files that have not been renamed”.
I think “unrenamed files” works, but ...
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Preservation of the en- prefix form of Latin negative prefix in-, in enemy & enmity
The en- in enemy is a prefix meaning "not": the origin is Latin inimicus, from in- + amicus — a "not friend" or an "unfriend" (Online Etymology Dictionary—enemy).
The Latin in- changed to en- when ...
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What is the difference between "irreligious" and "non-religious"?
Irreligious (Dictionary.com 1st definition):
not religious; not practicing a religion and feeling no religious
impulses or emotions.
Non-religious (Google definition):
not relating to or ...
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When is the prefix non- used vs un-?
Specifically, my students were asking why the terms "nonliving" and "undead" are the way they are. (And why "unliving" and "nondead" seem wrong.)
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"Unauthentic" vs. "inauthentic" [closed]
Is there really no difference between inauthentic and unauthentic?
If there is, which is more correct?
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Why do we say INcomplete but UNcompleted?
I'm a native speaker and it's just occurred to me that this is a strange irregularity:
"The work is incomplete." < Fine
"The work is uncompleted." < Less common but still ...
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What is the difference between "unfeasible" and "infeasible"?
Both "unfeasible" and "infeasible" are words according to spell-check, and they appear have similar dictionary definitions. But what is the difference between the two words? Is one more acceptable to ...
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Is it correct to use un-tinted or non-tinted in this use?
Related forms
nontinted, adjective
overtint, verb
overtint, noun
retint, verb (used with object)
untinted, adjective
Source: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/untinted?s=t
One un- is added to ...
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Dust vs. Undust?
The entry for "dust" from LDOCE says:
dust1 (n.)
[uncountable] → HOUSEHOLD dry powder consisting of extremely small bits of dirt that is in buildings on furniture, floors, etc. if they are ...
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What's the difference between "dissatisfied" and "unsatisfied"?
Is there a clear-cut difference between dissatisfied and unsatisfied?
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Insolvable, insoluble, and unsolvable
When speaking of a problem that has no solution, do the words insolvable, insoluble, and unsolvable have different shades of meaning? How do you decide which to use?
user53907
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What's the antonym of "prioritize"? [closed]
If someone is asked to do something important, they might say "I'll prioritize that". But if someone is asked to put something aside to work on something else more important, what could they say?
In ...
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Is "unsane" a word understood by a casual English speaker?
I have heard it used by some people e.g. Jacque Fresco, for example here.
I know that people understand the meaning of the word "insane", but what about an average Joe and his understanding of the ...
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Using "not" versus the negation prefixes for negation
Let's take this sentence as an example
He is able to move.
Now, what is the best negation of that action between those two?
He is not able to move.
He is unable to move.
And what makes ...
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"Not able to" vs. "unable to"
Which phrase is more suitable to convey one's inability to do something — "not able to" or "unable to"? For example,
not able to join the meeting
unable to join the meeting
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How does one capitalize words like "un-American"?
Google's dictionary lists it as "un-American" or "unAmerican" (which looks clumsy to me). Since American is a "demonym," I would usually capitalize it, so I feel compelled to capitalize "un-American" ...
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Why can we use "inadequate" but not "inspecific"?
I find the use of the word "inspecific" very natural. It makes sense and flows easily in sentences I speak and write (to myself at least). However, upon inspection, it is apparently not a valid ...
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Un-(adjective) but In-(noun) -- does it ever go the other way?
Many pairs of words use un- as a prefix for the preferred adjective but in- as a prefix for the preferred noun (e.g. unstable/instability, unequal/inequality, unable/inability, unjust/injustice, ...
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"Not possible" and "Impossible"
When we say,
It is not fair.
or
It is unfair.
I'm not sure enough to say whether both of the sentences have the same meaning or not though superficially, there is no difference between them ...
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