>>40591363Great question. Prefixes like in-, ir-, il-, im-, and un- all negate a word (mean โnotโ), but they have different uses based on the word's origin and spelling. Here's how to choose the right one:
Use "un-" when the root word is Germanic in origin (common, simple English words):
Examples:
unhappy, unclear, unknown, unrealistic
Think: If the word feels very "native English" or old-fashioned, un- is likely correct.
Use "in-" and its variants ("il-", "im-", "ir-") with Latin words.
This group changes form depending on the first letter of the root word for ease of pronunciation:
In- most consonants: inactive, invisible
Il- L: illegal, illiterate
Im- B M P: Imbalance, impossible, immaculate immobile impractical
Ir- R: irrational, irregular
And never say "irregardless" (double negative)
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