As you already know, any and all text we write needs to be in the correct language, too called “standard”, and with the norms established by the grammar, because we never write the same way as we talk.
For this, it is important to know well everything that refers to our mother tongue, that is, the Portuguese language.
Since January 1, 2009 there has been a change in spelling. Some cases have ceased to exist, others have arisen, and some have undergone a small change. But the fact is not scary, as we have until the year 2012 to adapt to the new rules. But why wait this long, isn't it?
The sooner we get to know it and put it into practice, the better the result. Then, we will know all the cases presented below:
* Our alphabet, which was previously composed of 23 letters, now has 26, as the letters “K”, “W” and “Y” have been integrated into it.
These letters are used in acronyms, symbols, proper names, foreign words and those that originate from them. Like for example:
Km, watts, Yuri, among others.
* The umlaut no longer exists, only in proper names and words with the same origin. Like for example:
Müller - Müllerian
Before we used to write like this: fifty
With the new rule – fifty
* Open diphthongs (ei, oi) are no longer accented in paroxytone words. Watch:
Before - assembly, idea, hive, audience
Now - assembly, idea, hive, audience
Before - heroic, paranoid, python, buoy
Now - heroic, paranoid, boa constrictor
* Verbs referring to the third person plural, ending in (ee) and the hiatus (oo) are no longer stressed. Like for example:
Before - seasickness, flight, bless
Now - seasickness, flight, bless
Rather - believe, read, see
Now - believe, read, see
* Words that received the accent to differentiate themselves from similar ones no longer receive. Watch:
Before – fur, pear, stop (verb stop)
Now - by, wait, to
* The hyphen is also missing in some cases. Are they:
In words ending with a vowel and starting with the consonants “r” or “s”.
In this case, the hyphen is removed and the consonant is doubled. Look:
Before - anteroom, self-portrait, anti-social, ultrasound, extra-dry
Now - anteroom, self-rectat, antisocial, ultrasonography, extra dry
Attention! The hyphen still remains in prefixes ending with the letter "r" and starting by itself:
hyper-resistant – super-realistic – inter-regional
* In words where the prefixes end in a vowel followed by another with the same vowel, add the hyphen:
Before - microwave, minibus, anti-inflammatory
Now – microwave, minibus, anti-inflammatory.
By Vânia Duarte
Graduated in Letters
Kids School Team
