Why is "separate" spelled this way?

Discover the fascinating logic behind this common word and learn how understanding spelling patterns can transform your writing confidence.

separate
sep•a•rate

Step 1: Syllable Breakdown

sepE says /ĕ/Rule: E says its short sound in closed syllables
aA says /ă/Rule: A says its short sound
rateA says /ā/ because of the silent ERule: The silent final E makes the vowel before it say its long sound (its name)

Step 2: Root Word Analysis

separ= to divide or keep apart (Latin root)

Related Words with "separ" (Latin root):

  • separation - the act of separating or being separated
  • separately - in a separate manner
  • separator - a device that separates things
  • inseparable - unable to be separated

Pronunciation Note

The word is often misspelled as 'seperate'. Remember: there's 'a rat' in 'separate' - the A comes before the R.

Putting It All Together

separate= to divide or keep apart

Remembering that there's 'a rat' in 'separate' helps you remember the correct spelling with A before R.

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