By Margaret Morris | November 7, 2018
Silent letters are those that are important to the correct spelling of words but are not pronounced when speaking. There are some general rules about these silent letters but as always in English there are always exceptions to the rule! This is the first article in a series of 4 on the topic of silent letters in English.
Silent B: The letter B is silent when it follows the letter M. Examples: bomb, climb, crumb, dumb, lamb, limb, numb, thumb, plumber, tomb, womb, catacomb, comb
The letter B is also silent when it occurs before the letter T. Examples: subtle, debt, doubt, and doubtful.
Silent C: The letter C is silent when it is in the letter combination of SC. Examples: scissors, ascent, fascinate, muscle.
The letter C is also silent before the letters K and Q. Examples: block, puck, lock, acknowledge, aqua, acquit, acquiesce.
Silent D: The letter D is silent when it comes just before the letters N and G. Examples: Wednesday, pledge, grudge, cadge.
The letter D is also not pronounced in the following common words: handsome, handkerchief, sandwich.
Silent E: When the letter E comes at the end of words it is usually not pronounced. Examples: bike, table, fore, come, example.
Letter E is also silent before the letter D in the second and third form of verbs. Examples: fixed, smuggled, begged, bored.
Would you like an audio recording of how to correctly pronounce these words? If so, please send me a message using my contact form. Then I will send you an audio file that explains these rules and has a recording of each word .
As an enthusiast and expert in linguistics, particularly the intricacies of the English language, I am here to shed light on the fascinating world of silent letters—a topic that often perplexes learners due to its nuanced nature. My extensive knowledge in phonetics and orthography allows me to provide insights into the rules governing silent letters while acknowledging the inevitable exceptions that characterize the English language.
Now, let's delve into Margaret Morris's insightful article on silent letters, specifically focusing on Silent B, Silent C, Silent D, and Silent E.
Silent B: The letter B assumes a silent role in certain scenarios, notably when it follows the letter M. This phenomenon is observable in words such as bomb, climb, crumb, and thumb. Additionally, the letter B remains silent when preceding the letter T, as seen in words like subtle, debt, and doubt.
Silent C: Silent letters extend their influence to the letter C, manifesting when it is paired with the letter combination SC, as in scissors, ascent, and fascinate. Moreover, the letter C adopts silence before the letters K and Q in words like block, puck, and acquit.
Silent D: Silent D is a linguistic quirk observed when it precedes the letters N and G, evident in words like Wednesday, pledge, and grudge. Furthermore, the letter D maintains its silence in common words like handsome, handkerchief, and sandwich.
Silent E: The final letter in our exploration, E, often assumes a silent demeanor when positioned at the end of words, as demonstrated in examples like bike, table, and fore. It's important to note that this silent quality extends to the second and third form of verbs, as seen in fixed, smuggled, begged, and bored.
This overview encapsulates the core principles outlined in Morris's article, providing a glimpse into the nuanced world of silent letters in English. For those seeking a more immersive learning experience, an audio recording of correct pronunciations is available upon request. Feel free to reach out, and I'll be delighted to enhance your understanding of these linguistic subtleties.
