Which suffix means recording a picture?

• A. -graph
• B. -graphy
• C. -gram
• D. -ography

Answer: (A)

The suffix used for the act of recording pictures is -graphy. In medical terminology, -graphy denotes the process or method of recording, as in photography—the recording of images with light. So photography literally means the recording of pictures, with the suffix -graphy telling you the act of recording.

The idea behind -graph is that it refers to an instrument that records something, such as an electrocardiograph, which is a device that records the heart’s activity. That’s why -graph points to a tool, not the act of capturing an image. The other option, -gram, refers to a written record or something recorded, but not specifically the process of recording pictures. The suffix -ography is related but broader and often denotes a field or study of recording or description, whereas -graphy is the direct process of recording, as in photography.