Spelling Rule – the sh sound in spelling pattern: cial /tial
cial – this suffix is usually added after a vowel, or when the root word ends in a c, cs, ce.
E.g superficial (you can see a vowel before the cial)
office – official (the root word ends in a ce)
The English language is always tricky and there are some exceptions to the rule which you just need to know:
beneficial (which would have the root word benefit, so it would be assumed it is tial, but it isn’t!)
spatial ( which comes from the root word space, so it would be assumed it is cial, but again, it’s not – we do have a hard language to learn!
tial – this suffix is used when following a consonant or the root word ends in t.
e.g confident – confidential
Evidential – the consonant n is before the tial
Words to learn:
substantial provincial (root province)
evidential artificial
confidential prejudicial
antisocial superficial
residential circumstantial
