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Is there a consistent rule when you double the n's ?

user44445
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1 Answers1

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This has to with how these words are derived

innovation = in + novation

1540-50; < Latin innovātus past participle of innovāre to renew, alter, equivalent to in- in-2 + novātus (novā(re) to renew, verbal derivative of novus new + -tus past participle suffix)

http://www.dictionary.com/browse/innovate

whereas

renovation = re + novation

1400-50; late Middle English (adj.) < Latin renovātus (past participle of renovāre), equivalent to re- re- + nov(us) new + -ātus -ate1

http://www.dictionary.com/browse/renovate?s=t

so innovation has two n's because the prefix and root both have n

eques
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    Yes. In-deed ... – Andrew Nov 08 '16 at 16:55
  • You probably need to refer to some etymological source to support your answer. –  Nov 08 '16 at 16:55
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    *Innovation:* http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=innovation&allowed_in_frame=0 - *Renovation:* http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=renovation&allowed_in_frame=0 –  Nov 08 '16 at 17:01
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    @Andrew "Indeed" derives from "in deed" so roughly equivalent, but via Anglo-Saxon instead of Latin – eques Nov 08 '16 at 17:02
  • A rule of thumb I learned is that, while suffixes often affect the spelling of the root word, prefixes (almost?) never do. – Adrian McCarthy Nov 08 '16 at 21:57
  • @AdrianMcCarthy That might be only partly true. In Latin, prefixes frequently affect the spelling of the root and we import them into English as-is – eques Nov 08 '16 at 22:17