Rules for cede-ceed-sede

With 12 words ending with the pronunciation of "seed," how can you spell each word correctly?

Well you'll need a few tricks! 

Trick #1:  Knowing there is only 1 word ending in -sede,  3 words ending in -ceed, and 8 words ending in -cede, memorize the one -sede word, supersede = to sit + above. ​

Trick #2:  Learn the 3 unique words ending in -ceed,  by using the mnemonic device:  Full Speed Ahead.  This helps since  both -ceed and -cede mean: go, yield, withdraw 

​Full Speed Ahead

• First, notice that SPEED  and -ceed both end in -eed.  Therefore, this mnemonic Full Speed Ahead reminds you to use -ceed.

• Next, the first 3 letters of speed are - S, P, and E.  These represent the first letters of the 3 prefixes that attach to -ceed.  

             "S" = suc-    succeed = go + "up from" under

            "P" = pro-    proceed = go + ahead, forward

            "E" = ex-      exceed = go + out  

• Well, how do you remember to use pro- rather than pre-? 

​           Since the prefix pro- means: ahead and pre- means: before.  The word ahead in the Full Speed Ahead tells you to use pro-.

• How do you remember to use suc- rather than se-?

​​             Try remembering that the word full in Full Speed Ahead suggests: "With a full effort, you can succeed."    

Once you have memorized the 1 word ending in -sede and the 3 words ending in -ceed using Full Speed Ahead, you'll always be able to figure out that the remaining 8 words end in -cede:

1. accede = yield + to

2. antecede = go + before

3. cede = withdraw

4. concede = fully + withdraw

5. intercede = go + between

6. precede = go + before

7. ​recede = go + back

8. secede  = go + apart​​

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