A LITTLE WORD KNOW-HOW
Prefixes and Suffixes: Spotting Useful Word Parts
Recognize common word parts without assuming every combination makes a valid word.
Look for a familiar piece
A prefix comes before a base, and a suffix follows it. RE- can suggest repetition, while -ING often appears in verb forms. These patterns can help you notice possibilities in a rack.
Check the actual spelling
Word parts do not combine freely. Adding an ending may change a spelling, and some plausible-looking combinations are not accepted words. Use the reference result rather than treating the pattern as proof.
Try the idea in an anagram
With READING, recognizing -ING leaves READ as a useful piece. That observation can reveal the long word and several shorter candidates. Every candidate still needs the letters the rack actually contains.