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Aggressively or Agressively – Which is Correct?

When it comes to the correct spelling of the word “aggressively,” there is no debate. The correct spelling is “aggressively,” with two “g’s.” This might seem like a simple and straightforward answer, but let’s dive deeper into the topic and explore why this is the case.

To understand why “aggressively” is the correct spelling, we need to take a closer look at the word ‘aggressive’ itself. The word ‘aggressive’ is an adjective that describes someone or something as behaving in a forceful or hostile manner. In this case, the suffix ‘-ly’ is added to the adjective ‘aggressive’ to form an adverb. An adverb, in simple terms, is a word that describes or modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb.

Now, let’s examine the spelling of the word ‘aggressively’ with two ‘g’s.’ The double ‘g’ is necessary because the root word ‘aggressive’ ends with a vowel followed by a consonant, which, in this case, is ‘ive.’ When adding the suffix ‘-ly’ to the root word ending in this pattern, the final consonant must be doubled before adding the suffix. This rule is known as the “doubling rule.” By doubling the ‘g,’ we preserve the short vowel sound of the ‘i’ in ‘aggressive,’ and we maintain grammatical correctness.

To illustrate this rule further, here are a few more examples of words that follow the same doubling rule when forming adverbs:

1. quick – quickly
2. big – bigly (although this word is rarely used)
3. sad – sadly
4. hot – hotly
5. thin – thinly

As you can see, each of these adverbs follows the same pattern of doubling the final consonant before adding the suffix ‘-ly’ to the end of the word. Similarly, ‘aggressively’ follows this rule, resulting in the correct spelling with two ‘g’s.’

Using the correct spelling is essential not only in everyday writing but also in formal examinations like the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). On the IELTS exam, attention to spelling and grammar is crucial, and using the incorrect spelling of words could lead to a lower score.

In conclusion, the correct spelling of the word ‘aggressively’ is with two ‘g’s.’ This follows the doubling rule when forming adverbs, which requires doubling the final consonant before adding the suffix ‘-ly.’ So, anytime you need to describe an action done in a forceful or hostile manner, remember to use the correct spelling: ‘aggressively.’ By doing so, you will not only enhance your writing skills but also impress IELTS examiners with your command of English grammar and vocabulary.