Learning Silent Words for English Improvement

Improving your English language skills is the first step to studying abroad. Most global universities use English to communicate, educate and direct students. It is important for international students to adapt to their academic methods. In effect, all students attempt improvement methods and appear for English proficiency tests. However, it is not an easy language to learn for a non-English speaker. One of the main hurdles for them is the silent letters. And one to easily look marks in listening and writing. The simplest of errors could jeopardize your overall score on the test and even the visa interview.

By identifying silent letters and learning how to correctly pronounce and write them, you can ace your English test. Further, you can avoid mistakes when you speed and master the art of English writing. As a result of the development of the language over time, silent words are what has remained of ancient English. The pronunciation of words changes as the language evolves and adapts to regional use. However, the spelling remained the same. One can identify silent letters by understanding the common spelling pattern and historical origin of words.

A-D

The letter A doesn’t do it with a -lly combination.
Eg: Artistically, romantically, logically, musically, etc.

The letter B usually follows the letter M silently. Further, it stays silent before the letter T too.
Eg: Comb, lamb, tomb, doubt, debt, subtle, etc.

The letter C typically goes silent in an SC combination, and also before the letter K and letter Q.
Eg: Scissors, muscle, fascination, aqua, acquiesce, chuckle, etc.

The letter D is silent before the letter N and the letter G.
Eg: Badge, handsome, Wednesday, pledge, sandwich, etc.

E-K

The letter E usually comes at the end of words. Factually, over 14,000 words start with this letter. When words end with the letter E, it is avoided while pronouncing. It further remains unbothered and silent before D in the second and third forms of verbs.
Eg: Table, write, called, pronounced, fixed, etc.

The letter G is not pronounced when before the letter N. Apart from this, when in a GH combination, it remains silent if headed with a vowel. However, it is pronounced as an F in compound words, like draught, thought, etc.
Eg: High, thought, signature, cognitive, magnet, light, etc.

The letter H typically is silent after the letter W. Interestingly, the H-words if have a quality of being proceeded the article ‘an’, have a silent H. The combination of CH either has its own sound or has a silent H.
Eg: Why, where, hour, honour, ache, echo, stomach, school, character, charm, chuckle, etc.

The K always ‘k’eep its quiet to let the letter N talk. In other words, K when followed by N is silent.
Eg: Knight, know, knowledge, knock, etc.

L-R

The letter L usually gets consumed by the vowels. In effect, it is silent after the vowels – A, E, I, O, U.
Eg: Calf, half, balm, yolk, should, salmon, almond, walk, etc.

The combination of MN has N silent.
Eg. Column, damn, autumn, etc.

The letter P is silent when at the beginning of a word and followed by B, N, S or T. Further, it doesn’t have much say in a PH combination and is pronounced as an ‘F’
Eg. Psychology, phenomenon, pneumatical, elephant, cupboard, raspberry, etc.

S-Z

The letter S stays silent when followed by an L. Further, it could also be silent if after the letter I.
Eg: Aisle, island, viscount, etc.

Exceptionally, the letter T has definite English words to stay silent in. The words are castle, Christmas, fasten, listen, often, beret, Chevrolet, whistle, bustle, hasten, soften, rapport, gourmet and ballet.

The letter U between G and a vowel is silent.
Eg. Guide, guest, guard, etc.

Last, the letter W is silent when beginning a word and is followed by the letter R. Moreover, it is silent when followed by a ‘ho’ combination.
Eg. Write, wrong, wrack, while, two, sword, wrapper, etc.

Too much to process?

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