Memorable Schwa Sets:

#7 'A Believable Estimate'

This is a multi-part series on 'Selectively Lazy English'. If you're new, you can jump back to the first set of resources ... or start at the very beginning with my intro article.

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lazy schwa words

TIP: It's a good idea listen to the audio without looking at the written examples – at least when you start.

We pronounce the highlighted spelling patterns with a lazy schwa vowel in all of the word examples below, and in all contexts – even if a speaker wants to heavily emphasise the word.

-able reasonable, profitable, actionable, usable, available, unbelievable, enjoyable

-ate private, delicate, accurate, estimate (noun form), coordinate (noun form), appropriate (adj. form)

NOTE: Words that end in the ‘ate’ suffix that are verbs do NOT tend to have a schwa. Instead, the ‘ate’ part of these verbs rhymes with the number “eight”: if you search for “to estimate” vs. “the estimate” on YouGlish you can hopefully hear the two different pronunciations of ‘ate’.

Instead of verbs, the examples of -ate with a schwa tend to be nouns (e.g. an estimate) or adjectives (e.g. accurate).

lazy schwa sentences:

She gave usable and accurate estimates of how much private investment was needed.

Unbelievable – the postcode’s wrong! If it’s appropriate, do you mind sending your coordinates?

exception words:

-able turntable, able

-ate verb forms of: estimate, coordinate, appropriate, etc*

* see 'lazy schwa words' note above

exception sentences:

I’ve coordinated the team to debate the plan and to estimate all the costs.