Summarize the following:
English is a tricky language, because many of the rules have exceptions. Certain spellings simply don't follow the rules. However, knowing the rules will help you most of the time. While it helps to know the exceptions, don't try to learn them all at once. If you absorb them gradually, they won't seem so frustrating. Your best bet is simply to memorize the spellings that don't conform to the rules. " This well-known rule pertains to words such as die, friend, yield, patient, convenience, piece and receive (where "ei" follows "c.") Unfortunately, there are many words that disobey this rule, such as weight, height, sleigh and reins. When the rules fail, you're left with memorization. If the i/e combination is followed immediately by a "gh" (as in weight or height), the "e" precedes the "i." It's another exception you simply have to memorize. A few other words to memorize (that don't follow the "i before e" rule) include "either," "neither," "leisure," "protein," "their," and "weird." Remember the rhyme, "When two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking." When two vowels are next to each other, often you pronounce only the first vowel. This makes it easier to place two vowels in the right order. (Of course, you have to remember that two vowels are called for in this case.) For example, you hear the "o" sound in the word "coat," so you know the "o" comes first. You hear the "e" sound in "mean," so you put the "e" first. Once again there are exceptions to this rule that you will need to memorize, such as "you," "great," and "phoenix." The letter "c" can be pronounced hard, as in "cat," or soft, as in "cell." Usually if the letter following the "c" is "a," "o," "u" or a consonant, the "c" is hard. Examples include cat, cot, cut, cute and clue. If the following letter is "e," "i" or "y," the "c" is usually soft. Examples include celery, citation and cycle. English words sometimes have a letter that is silent, typically a consonant next to another consonant at the beginning of a word. Here are common letter combinations where one letter is silent: Gn, pn, and kn: These letter combinations all have an "n" sound. The other letter is silent. Examples are "gnaw," "pneumonia" and "knock." Rh and wr: Both of these combinations have an "r" sound. For example, rhyme and "write. Ps and sc: These combinations both make an "s" sound, as in psychic and science. Wh: Sometimes "wh" sounds like "h," as in "whole." "Gh" is often silent, especially if it comes after "i." This happens in words like "right" and weight." Sometimes "gh" makes an "f" sound, as in "cough" or "tough."
Recognize that some spelling rules have exceptions. Remember the general rule that "i" precedes "e" much of the time except when they follow the letter "c. Pay attention to other double vowels. Learn the "c" sound patterns. Look for consonant letter combinations where one letter is silent.