2.1. The Sound /k/
This sound can be spelled in any one of four ways:
1. c 2. cc 3. k 4. ck
1. The single letter, c , is the most common spelling. It may be used anywhere in a word:
cat |
corn |
actor |
victim |
direct |
mica |
scat |
bacon |
public |
cactus |
inflict |
pecan |
2. Sometimes the letter c must be doubled to cc to protect the sound of a short vowel:
stucco |
baccalaureate |
hiccups |
Mecca |
tobacco |
buccaneer |
occupy |
raccoon |
succulent |
3. The letter k is substituted for c if /k/ is followed by an e, i, or y.
kin |
make |
sketch |
poker |
kind |
risky |
skin |
token |
skill |
keep |
liking |
flaky |
(Boring examples? How about kyphosis, kylix, keratosis, and dyskinesia?)
4. Similarly, the spelling ck, is substituted for cc if the following letter is an e, i, or y:
lucky |
picking |
rocking |
finicky |
blackest |
mackintosh |
frolicked |
ducking |
Kentucky |
picnicking |
stocking |
Quebecker |
5. The letters, k and ck are more than substitutes for c and cc. They are used to spell /k/ at the end of a monosyllable. The digraph, ck, ALWAYS follows a short vowel:
sack |
duck |
lick |
stick |
wreck |
clock |
(Forget about yak. Your student will never need it.)
The letter, k, follows any other sound:
milk |
soak |
make |
bark |
tank |
peek |
bike |
cork |
tusk |
hawk |
duke |
perk |
2.2. The Sound, /j/
The sound, /j/ is spelled in three ways: j ge and dge.
1. The letter j is usually used if the sound if followed by an a, o, or u.
just |
jam |
jungle |
injure |
major |
adjacent |
jog |
jar |
Japan |
jury |
job |
Benjamin |
adjust |
jacket |
jolly |
jaguar |
jump |
jalousie |
2. Since the letter g has the soft sound of /j/ when it is followed by an e, i, or y, it is usually used in this situation:
gentle |
ginger |
aging |
algebra |
Egyptologist |
gem |
origin |
gym |
3. If /j/ follows a short vowel sound, it is usually spelled with dge. This is because the letter j, is never doubled in English.
badge |
ridge |
dodge |
partridge |
gadget |
judge |
edge |
smudge |
judgement |
budget |
2.3. The Sound, /ch/
The sound /ch/ has two spellings: tch after a short vowel, ch anywhere else:
witch |
sketch |
botch |
satchel |
catch |
hatchet |
kitchen |
escutcheon |
Exceptions:
Which, rich, much, such, touch, bachelor, attach, sandwich, and ostrich.
2.4. The Sound, /kw/
This sound is ALWAYS spelled with the letters, qu, never anything else.