Morphemes in “incorrectly”
“incorrectly” has 3 morphemes: in- + correct + -ly.
in
prefix
+
correct
root
+
ly
suffix
Spelling changes when the parts join: the boxes show the letters as written; the morphemes themselves are in- + correct + -ly.
Each morpheme explained
| Morpheme | Type | Free / bound | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| in- | derivational prefix | bound | not |
| correct | free root | free | free from error; especially conforming to fact or truth |
| -ly | derivational suffix | bound | in the manner of; every (as in daily) |
How the word is built
correct → incorrect → incorrectly
Each step adds one affix to the word before it; the root “correct” is where the chain starts.
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Segmentation derived from MorphyNet (Batsuren, Bella & Giunchiglia, 2021; CC BY-SA 3.0, built from Wiktionary), with hand-written affix glosses and root meanings from WordNet. Reviewed for classroom use; tell us if you spot an error.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many morphemes are in "incorrectly"?
"incorrectly" has three morphemes: in- + correct + -ly.
How do you break "incorrectly" into morphemes?
in- + correct + -ly. The root is "correct"; in- is a derivational prefix, -ly is a derivational suffix.
What is the root word of "incorrectly"?
The root of "incorrectly" is "correct", built up as correct → incorrect → incorrectly.
Is this morphology tool free?
Yes. The Fixie morphological analyzer is free with no signup and runs in your browser.