The word "riffling" is spelled with two "f's" because it has a short vowel sound. The IPA phonetic transcription for "riffling" is /ˈrɪflɪŋ/. The first "f" represents the sound "f" as in "feet," and the second "f" represents the same sound. The double "f" is necessary to indicate the short vowel sound in the second syllable, replacing the letter "v" in the original word "riving," which has a long vowel sound. "Riffling" means to turn the pages of a book quickly and casually.
Riffling, in its various forms, can be defined as a verb used to describe a swift, casual or quick way of flipping through the pages of a book, magazine, or any kind of written or printed material, usually without reading or perusing the content in depth. It involves using one's fingers to quickly skim the pages, thereby producing a distinct fluttering or rustling sound.
The act of riffling generally signifies a hasty search for something specific or a casual attempt to gauge the contents of a publication, often done out of curiosity or to find a particular section or information of interest. It is typically a method used when time is limited or when one desires to get a general sense of what is contained within the pages without dedicating substantial attention to the contents.
Riffling can also have a literal meaning, being associated with the action of shuffling or sliding one's fingers quickly and lightly across the surface of objects, such as sand, playing cards, or the hair. This definition connotes a gentle yet rapid motion, often associated with seeking texture, sensation, or a tactile experience.
In summary, riffling commonly refers to the act of quickly flipping through pages of a book or other printed matter, usually to gain a general understanding or locate specific information without fully engaging in reading. It can also describe a swift, light sliding or tapping motion across a surface to explore texture or feel.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "riffling" is derived from the verb "riffle". The term "riffle" originated in the mid-18th century and is believed to have been influenced by the earlier word "rivel". "Riffle" originally meant to flip through the pages of a book quickly or to shuffle or skim through papers. It may have been derived from the Middle English word "rifflen", which meant to scratch or scrape. Over time, "riffling" came to be used in various contexts such as flipping through cards or skimming through any kind of material in a quick and casual manner.