НЕ begins with meaning
Solid не- often asserts a negative quality; separate не negates or contrasts the positive adjective.
- The synonym test is useful evidence, not a mechanical proof. Intonation, context, logical emphasis, lexical convention, and adjective type all matter.
- Control point: Ask whether the sentence names a property or performs a negation. Punctuation and surrounding alternatives often reveal the choice.
3.21 · НЕ begins with meaning · table 1
| Reading | Example | Interpretation |
|---|
| asserted quality | небольшо́й дом | small/modest-sized house |
|---|
| negation | Дом не большо́й. | it is not big; alternative left open |
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| explicit contrast | не большо́й, а ма́ленький | positive property rejected |
|---|
| lexical word | небре́жный | not used as *брежный in this sense |
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| authorial choice | нея́ркий / не я́ркий свет | dim quality / denial of brightness |
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When solid spelling is the default
Write не- solid when the modern word is not used without it or when a new quality is asserted and can often be paraphrased by a positive synonym.
- Degree words that reinforce the asserted property normally support solid spelling.
- Control point: A positive synonym confirms an available lexical meaning but does not overrule explicit contrast or reinforced negation.
3.21 · When solid spelling is the default · table 1
| Basis | Example | Paraphrase/evidence |
|---|
| no word without не | неле́пый, неуклю́жий | lexical item |
|---|
| new quality | неинтере́сный разгово́р | ску́чный |
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| new quality | непра́вильное реше́ние | оши́бочное |
|---|
| degree assertion | о́чень неуда́чный фина́л | strongly asserts failure |
|---|
| degree assertion | кра́йне неразбо́рчивый по́черк | strongly asserts illegibility |
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| short quality | Зада́ча нелегка́. | трудна́ |
|---|
Separate spelling: contrast and reinforced negation
Write не separately when the positive quality is explicitly opposed or negation is strengthened.
- The same rule applies to full and short forms where the lexeme otherwise permits both spellings.
- Control point: Not every а or но creates opposition: небы́стрый, но весёлый asserts both slowness and cheerfulness and can keep solid spelling.
- Retrieval checkpoint: Pause and reconstruct the diagnostic forms from the last three lessons without looking, then check what you missed.
3.21 · Separate spelling: contrast and reinforced negation · table 1
| Trigger | Example | Why separate |
|---|
| не ... а | не интере́сный, а ску́чный | direct contrast |
|---|
| далеко́ не | далеко́ не идеа́льный | reinforced negation |
|---|
| отню́дь не | отню́дь не про́стой | reinforced negation |
|---|
| ничу́ть не | ничу́ть не сме́шной | negative pronoun/adverb |
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| ниско́лько не | ниско́лько не ва́жен | reinforced negation |
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| opposite restated | не коро́ткий — дли́нный | intonational/written opposition |
|---|
Degree words and authorial focus
Совсем, вовсе, абсолютно, and совершенно can reinforce either assertion or negation depending on stress and intended meaning.
- Orthography encodes that choice, so surrounding discourse and spoken focus matter.
- Meaning checkpoint: If both spellings seem possible, state the intended proposition aloud: 'asserting unclear' or 'denying clear'. Then choose and maintain discourse consistency.
3.21 · Degree words and authorial focus · table 1
| Assertion | Negation | Difference |
|---|
| совсе́м неста́рый | совсе́м не ста́рый | quite young/not old vs emphatic denial |
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| вовсе́ неглу́пый | вовсе́ не глу́пый | rather clever vs not stupid |
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| абсолю́тно неинтере́сный | абсолю́тно не интере́сный | utterly dull vs categorical denial |
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| соверше́нно нея́сный | соверше́нно не я́сный | utterly unclear vs not clear at all |
|---|
Short forms, comparatives, and lexical conventions
Some predicate forms conventionally take separate не even when a tempting synonym exists; simple comparatives also use separate не.
- Other short adjectives allow solid or separate spelling by the ordinary meaning contrast. Consult the dictionary for the lexical group.
- Control point: A synonym does not override listed lexical conventions: не гото́в and не рад are separate in neutral spelling.
3.21 · Short forms, comparatives, and lexical conventions · table 1
| Convention | Example | Guidance |
|---|
| separate predicate | не гото́в, не до́лжен, не рад | lexically conventional |
|---|
| separate predicate | не обя́зан, не согла́сен | negated state/obligation |
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| simple comparative | не лу́чше, не ху́же, не вы́ше | separate |
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| solid short quality | Зада́ча нелегка́. | lexical 'difficult' |
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| meaning contrast | Он непра́в / Он не прав | asserted wrongness vs contextual denial/contrast |
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Solid compounds and subordinate relations
Many multi-base adjectives are written solid when the bases form a hierarchical relation or a lexicalised single concept.
- Formation from a solid compound noun also favours solid spelling, but exceptions are numerous.
- Control point: The subordinate-versus-coordinate test is a first pass, not a complete dictionary. Established terminology can depart from the semantic prediction.
- Retrieval checkpoint: Pause and reconstruct the diagnostic forms from the last three lessons without looking, then check what you missed.
3.21 · Solid compounds and subordinate relations · table 1
| Structure | Example | Source relation |
|---|
| subordinate phrase | железнодоро́жный | желе́зная доро́га |
|---|
| domain relation | сельскохозя́йственный | се́льское хозя́йство |
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| object + action | станкострои́тельный | строи́ть станки́ |
|---|
| single lexical concept | древнеру́сский | Old Russian |
|---|
| compound source | водопрово́дный | водопрово́д |
|---|
| shape/property | голубогла́зый | having blue eyes |
|---|
Hyphens: equal bases, source hyphens, shades, and directions
A hyphen commonly links coordinate bases, preserves a hyphenated source, or marks conventional shade/direction formations.
- Test whether и can join equal concepts, then check the lexical norm.
- Control point: Some compounds remain solid or hyphenated contrary to the simplest semantic test. Use the academic spelling dictionary for doubtful established terms.
3.21 · Hyphens: equal bases, source hyphens, shades, and directions · table 1
| Type | Example | Reason |
|---|
| equal domains | нау́чно-техни́ческий | scientific and technical |
|---|
| languages | ру́сско-англи́йский | Russian and English |
|---|
| hyphenated source | се́веро-за́падный | се́веро-за́пад |
|---|
| proper source | нью-йо́ркский | Нью-Йо́рк |
|---|
| colour shade | све́тло-си́ний, я́рко-кра́сный | shade/intensity |
|---|
| taste combination | ки́сло-сла́дкий | coordinated tastes |
|---|
Free adverb + adjective versus fused term
An ordinary adverb independently modifying an adjective or participle is written separately; a lexicalised compound term may be solid.
- Stress, syntactic expandability, terminology, and dictionary status help distinguish them.
- Control point: Do not remove spaces merely because two words frequently co-occur. Lexicalisation, not frequency alone, creates a compound.
3.21 · Free adverb + adjective versus fused term · table 1
| Free phrase | Fused/lexical form | Contrast |
|---|
| абсолю́тно но́вый | — | independent degree adverb |
|---|
| жизненно ва́жный | — | free conventional phrase, separate |
|---|
| принципиа́льно но́вый | — | adverb modifies adjective |
|---|
| бы́стро де́йствующий челове́к | быстроде́йствующее сре́дство | event manner vs technical property |
|---|
| ве́чно зелёный в саду́ | вечнозелёное расте́ние | situational phrase vs botanical term |
|---|
| чи́сто ру́сский | древнеру́сский | free degree/type vs lexical period |
|---|
Capitalisation in adjective derivatives
Capital letters depend on individual possession and official naming, not on prestige or the mere presence of a proper-name source.
- The possessive -ов/-ев/-ин series and relational -ск- series follow different defaults.
- Control point: Check the organisation's or place's official form; house style cannot invent or remove a proper-name status.
- Retrieval checkpoint: Pause and reconstruct the diagnostic forms from the last three lessons without looking, then check what you missed.
3.21 · Capitalisation in adjective derivatives · table 1
| Type | Spelling | Reason |
|---|
| individual -ин | Та́нина кни́га | specific Tanya's possession |
|---|
| individual -ев | Да́лев слова́рь | Dahl as individual author |
|---|
| idiom/term | ахилле́сова пята́, рентге́новы лучи́ | lexicalised lowercase |
|---|
| relational -ск- | пу́шкинские стихи́ | general relation/style |
|---|
| official name | Но́белевская пре́мия | part of proper name |
|---|
| official place | Пу́шкинская пло́щадь | geographic name |
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НЕ and compound-spelling assessment
State the intended meaning and formation before editing spaces, hyphens, or capitals.