English has 26 letters in the alphabet, or in written form.
Spoken English has over 40 sounds.
What a difference, right? No wonder that spelling is so confusing and makes deciphering pronunciation difficult.
Take a look at the letter A. It can be pronounced long as in MAKE, short as in MATT, and in a combination sound as in CAR or CARE. That is four pronunciations for only one sound!
Check back for a series of weekly articles on spelling and pronunciation. Let us know if you have any questions. We are here to help!