“Swimmers” or “swimmers”? Who are they and how are they written?

Learning the basics of the Russian language, for the first time, students learn to check spelling with the help of cognates. One of the first obstacles to a good speech will be the "swimmers." Or "swimmers"? Even older people periodically forget some aspects of their native speech and make a mistake. They are terribly frightened and indignant, having noticed the “incorrect” inscription on the pool wall, and then they have been cursing with administrators for a long time.

What can sail?

Understand the etymology and better remember the features of the word being studied. The concept has three definitions, one of which is practically not used today as unnecessary and falling out of everyday communication:

• floating at the moment or knowing how to do it;
• athlete who has conquered the peaks of swimming;
• the man who walks on water on a ship, a sailor.

It is the third, "lost" option that will become the saving thread! It is quite possible that just a few centuries ago they did not think: “swimmer” or “swimmer”. Since the stress of the test word fell directly to the root and left no room for doubt. But what is the source?

The ancestor of the means to conquer the water element can be called a shuttle or a boat. She helped to fish, carry goods or deliver goods over a great distance. Only in Russia was the ship called “pilaf” called, partial echoes of this can be found in the “raft”. Accordingly, he managed such a transport "swim". The spelling of the word has changed, but the general structure has remained unchanged, including the preserved vowel “o”.

Does it usually work?

To refer to ancient times during a dictation is ridiculous, albeit convenient. Therefore, the main choice between “swimmers” or “swimmers” regulates the rule for alternating vowels in -float and -float. If the stress falls to the root, then feel free to write the same as you hear, the letter “a”. Otherwise, also write "a"! This is extremely convenient, but you should remember the exception in the form of just two words:

• swimmer;
• swimmer.

The rule also applies to derivatives by number, gender or case.

How to react to a mistake?

Even adults are wrong. And the children have to absorb a lot of information of different planes: to learn about the world around them in natural science, to learn mathematical formulas, to get acquainted with aspects of native speech. A long list of exceptions cannot be remembered instantly, in one moment. Need practice and patience.

Gradually, between the “swimmers” or “swimmers,” the young student will make the right choice subconsciously, without thinking for a moment. And if you introduce him to the history of the word, then due to vivid images, the rule will be saved in memory much better!