proper use of suffix -ive versus -ion

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Anonymous  #209992  Mon, 27 Mar 06 10:42 AM
Looking for rules relating to the proper use of suffixes -ive and -ion.   I've already recieved much speculation from other forums on which is correct, so I would more appreciate a reply by someone who has concrete evidence for its proper use.  Which of the following is correct?

The machine operates on principles of inductive heating.

or

The machine operates on principles of induction heating.

Induction is the more commonly used if you consider Googles results.  However I did find the following excerpt that clearly establishes that the proper use is Inductive, IF in fact, it is correct.  To me, the base word "induct" is used as an adjective in my application.  So if the following is true, then the ending IVE would be the appropriate to use.

except :    "Take for example the root word ACT.  This is a strong root, one that can stand by itself; to act means to do something.  We can then add different suffixes to the work ACT to make it a different part of speech.  If we add the suffix "ive" we get the word ACTIVE.  Active is the adjective form of act.  If we add the suffix "ion" we now have an ACTION, which is a noun."


Can someone with practical knowledge of its proper use please elaborate? 

Thank you so much.

erik
  
Mister Micawber  #210270  Tue, 28 Mar 06 07:53 AM

I don't know what you're really looking for, Erik.  -Ion is a noun suffix and -ive is an adjective suffix.  In forming compound nouns, we often have the choice of using the noun-noun form or the adjective-noun form:

Inductive/induction heating
winter/wintry weather
rehabilitation/rehabilitative treatment
department/departmental meeting

etc.

Preferred usage can only be determined by what is current in the field or among those using the term.  In your case, what do physicists or heating/heat technologists-- those who are writing or reading your example sentence-- use more commonly?


  
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Anonymous  #214619  Wed, 12 Apr 06 11:49 AM
Well then if I understand you correctly, either is correct.  I didn't expect that answer. Ok, based on google search terms, its apparent that induction heating is used much more commonly than inductive heating.  So I'm going to assume this means we will be using induction.  Thank you for the time you took to reply.
  
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