A reader writes, apropos my leafleter/leafleteer post:
You write, “standard word formation rules thus give us ‘leafleter.'”
Actually, I’m pretty sure standard word-formation rules would give us “leafletter,” as in “bat — batter,” “spit — spitter,” etc. The double consonant signifies that the preceding vowel remains short. Per normal English orthography/pronunciation rules, one would expect to pronounce “leafleter” “leaf-leeter.”
Here’s the simplest rule I’ve heard, from my brother Sasha, if I recall: In American English, when a verb ends in a short vowel followed by one consonant (e.g., “leaflet”), then in the “-ed,” “-ing,” and “-er” forms the consonant is doubled if the accent is on the last (or only) syllable. If the accent is not on the last syllable, then the consonant need not be doubled. It often may be doubled, but the more common American use is to keep it single. (In British English, doubling is more common even in the latter context.)
Hence “getting” and “forgetting” but “targeting,” “compelled” but “modeled.” There are exceptions (e.g., busing), but this seems to be a good rule of thumb.
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