A guide on how to identify silent letters

1. Silent letters
A simple guide

2. A is not
pronounced before
-lly
Ex romantically, logically, artistically,
musically

3. B is not pronounced
Before -t as in doubt, debt, subtle
After -m as in womb, climb, tomb, comb, bomb,
plumber, thumb…
Exceptions are to obtain, remember

4. C is usually silent
- when it comes after -s and before -e, -i
e -y as in science, scissors, muscle,
yacht

5. D is normally silent
if it comes before -n
or -g
Ex.: Wednesday, pledge, grudge,
sandwich, handsome

6. -E is generally silent at the
end of words as in
face, cute, mate,stripe,
hate and tube

7. G is generally not pronounced if it
comes before n
Align
Foreign
Exceptions to this rule are
magnet, signature
It is not pronounced if it
comes after a vowel and
before an h as in light,
through, high
Exceptions are in compound
words as doghouse or
foghorn

8. H is normally silent
after w as in
Why, what
- Exceptions to this rule is when there is
-o after h as in who
- at the beginning of some words as
honest, hour, honor

9. -K is generally silent
before -n as in to
know, knife, knight

10. L is generally not pronounced if it
comes after -a, -o, -u
Calf
Should
Yolk

11. N is normally silent
after m at the end of
words
Autumn
column
damn

12. -P is generally silent
in letter combinations
as -ps, -pn, pt used
at the beginning of
words as in
psychology,
pterodactyl,
pneumonia

13. S is generally not pronounced if it
comes before l
Island
Isle

14. T is normally silent in
the letter group sten at
the end of words or in
style or French words
Listen
Moisten
damn
Nestle
Whistle
Castle
Ballet
Beret

15. -U is generally silent
after g at the
beginning of words
as in guess and
guide

16. W is generally not pronounced if it comes
before r at the beginning of words
Wrong
Write
Wrap
W is silent if it is before-ho at
the beginning of a word as in
who or whole
Random words as swan,
sword, two

17. X is normally silent
in French words
Faux

18. -Z is generally silent
in French words as
rendezvous