Suffixes -ANCE, -ANCY, -ENCE, -ENCY

The suffixes -ANCE, -ANCY, -ENCE, -ENCY are common noun-forming suffixes in English. They usually show a state, quality, condition, or action.

These forms come from Latin and Old French. In Latin, the choice of A or E depended on verb conjugations. English borrowed the words but did not keep the rule, so today there is no reliable spelling rule to decide between -ANCE and -ENCE (or -ANCY and -ENCY).

👉 Even native speakers sometimes confuse them. For learners, the best approach is to memorize words in groups and notice patterns.

1. Nouns with -ANCE

These usually show a general condition or quality.

• acceptance /əkˈsɛptəns/ – the act of receiving or agreeing to something

  • acceptance of an invitation, acceptance speech

• appearance /əˈpɪərəns/ – the way someone looks; or the act of arriving

  • first appearance, public appearance

• clearance /ˈklɪərəns/ – permission; the removal of obstacles; a sale

  • security clearance, clearance sale

• elegance /ˈɛlɪɡəns/ – refined beauty and style

  • elegance in dress, elegance of movement

• endurance /ɪnˈdjʊərəns/ – ability to last or survive hardship

  • marathon endurance, test of endurance

• fragrance /ˈfreɪɡrəns/ – a pleasant smell

  • a floral fragrance, perfume fragrance

• maintenance /ˈmeɪntənəns/ – keeping something in working order

  • road maintenance, routine maintenance

• resistance /rɪˈzɪstəns/ – opposition, refusal to give in

  • resistance to change, immune resistance

• significance /sɪɡˈnɪfɪkəns/ – importance, meaning

  • historical significance, significance of results

• vengeance /ˈvɛndʒəns/ – revenge, punishment in return

  • seek vengeance, vengeance for a crime

    
    

2. Nouns with -ANCY

Less common, often abstract and specific.

• discrepancy /dɪsˈkrɛpənsi/ – a difference that should not exist

  • discrepancy in accounts, major discrepancy

• expectancy /ɪkˈspɛktənsi/ – anticipation or hope for something

  • life expectancy, expectancy of success

• inhabitancy /ɪnˈhæbɪtənsi/ – the condition of living in a place

• militancy /ˈmɪlɪtənsi/ – aggressive or fighting attitude

• occupancy /ˈɒkjʊpənsi/ – the use or possession of property

  • hotel occupancy, occupancy rate

• pregnancy /ˈprɛɡnənsi/ – the condition of carrying a child before birth

• vacancy /ˈveɪkənsi/ – an empty space or job opening

  • hotel vacancy, job vacancy

    
    

3. Nouns with -ENCE

Very frequent in English. Often broader in meaning than -ENCY forms.

• absence /ˈæbsəns/ – being away or not present

  • in the absence of evidence

• conference /ˈkɒnfərəns/ – formal meeting or discussion

  • international conference, press conference

• difference /ˈdɪfərəns/ – the way things are not the same

  • make a difference, cultural differences

• emergence /ɪˈmɜːdʒəns/ – process of becoming visible or important

  • emergence of new technology

• occurrence /əˈkʌrəns/ – an event or happening

  • common occurrence, rare occurrence

• patience /ˈpeɪʃəns/ – calm waiting without complaint

  • infinite patience, lose patience

• preference /ˈprɛfərəns/ – choice for one thing over another

  • personal preference, express a preference

• reference /ˈrɛfərəns/ – mention of something; source of info

  • reference book, in reference to…

• sentence /ˈsɛntəns/ – a group of words; also a punishment in court

• sequence /ˈsiːkwəns/ – an order of events or numbers

  • logical sequence, sequence of events

    
    

4. Nouns with -ENCY

More specific, often technical or formal.

• currency /ˈkʌrənsi/ – money system in a country

• emergency /ɪˈmɜːdʒənsi/ – urgent and dangerous situation

  • medical emergency, state of emergency

• fluency /ˈfluːənsi/ – smooth and natural ability, especially in speaking

  • fluency in English, reading fluency

• frequency /ˈfriːkwənsi/ – how often something happens

  • frequency of visits, high frequency

• inconsistency /ˌɪnkənˈsɪstənsi/ – lack of agreement or steadiness

• presidency /ˈprɛzɪdənsi/ – the office or term of a president

• tendency /ˈtɛndənsi/ – a leaning toward a way of acting or thinking

  • tendency to forget, growing tendency

• urgency /ˈɜːdʒənsi/ – the quality of requiring immediate action

  • sense of urgency, urgency of the matter

    
    

5. Word Pairs: -ANCE vs. -ANCY and -ENCE vs. -ENCY

Some words exist in two forms.

Same meaning (interchangeable):

• brilliance / brilliancy – shining brightness

• relevance / relevancy – being connected to the topic

• lenience / leniency – gentleness, not being strict

Different meanings:

• emergence – process of appearing

• emergency – sudden crisis

• residence – the state of living in a place

• residency – a period of living; also medical training

• dependence – the condition of relying on something

• dependency – a territory ruled by another country

👉 General rule of thumb:

• -ANCE / -ENCE = broader, more general meanings

• -ANCY / -ENCY = narrower, more technical or formal meanings

6. Learning Tips

1. Group study: Write two columns, one for -ANCE / -ENCE and one for -ANCY / -ENCY.

2. Say them aloud: Pronouncing words helps memory.

3. Spot pairs: Note where both forms exist, and check meanings carefully.

4. Context practice: Use collocations (common word partners) to remember usage.

   • seek vengeance, life expectancy, conference room, state of emergency

5. Dictionary check: When unsure, confirm spelling and meaning with a reliable dictionary.