We tell the students that when the letter “c” is followed by the letters i, e or y, the “c” makes the /s/ sound just like in the words “city”, “cent” and “icy”. The letter “g” is similar. When the “g” is followed by an i, e or y it makes the /j/ sound as in “gem”, “gist” or “gym”.
The "Rule of c" covers the pronunciation of the letter "c", indicating when "c" stand for the /s/ sound. The rule is: The letter c represents /s/ before the letters e, i or y; otherwise it represents /c/.
In 1-syllable words use the letter 'c' with the vowels a, o, u. 'c' is the most common spelling for /k/ at the beginning of words. Use the letter 'k' with the vowels i and e. Use the consonant digraph 'ck' only at the end of 1-syllable words when the /k/ sound IMMEDIATELY follows a vowel.
Here's the rule: When 'c' comes directly before the letters 'e', 'i' or 'y' we use the /s/ sound. in other cases we use a /k/ sound.
When c is in front of an i, y, or e, it is soft and says /s/. For example: city, cycle, and race. When c is in front of any other letter, it is hard and says /k/.
"I before E, except after C" is a mnemonic rule of thumb for English spelling. If one is unsure whether a word is spelled with the digraph ei or ie, the rhyme suggests that the correct order is ie unless the preceding letter is c, in which case it may be ei.
The K vs CK Rule in Spelling and Phonics
The K vs CK rule is as such: If the /k/ sound falls at the end of the word, and the /k/ is immediately preceded by a short vowel sound, it is spelled ck. If the /k/ sound is immediately preceded by a long vowel sound or consonant, it is spelled with k.
C and K Spelling Rule
When your students hear the /k/ sound at the beginning of a word, they probably think of the letter “c.” Teach that K comes before the letters i and e in a word. Like in the words “kid” and “key.” On the other hand, the letter c comes before the letters a, o, and u, like cat, cod, and cup.
In 1-syllable words use the letter 'c' with the vowels a, o, u. 'c' is the most common spelling for /k/ at the beginning of words. Examples: cap cop cup. Use the letter 'k' with the vowels i and e. Examples: kit Ken kin.
In Anglo-Saxon English C was pronounced "k" or "ch" then the French invaded in 1066 and introduced the soft C ("s" sound). Modern words follow this old rule: A soft c "s" before i, e or y - cinema, decide, celebrate, cemetery, cyber, cigarette, cylinder, centre/center, decision, cent, acceptance.
Pronounce the letter “C” as a “K” sound, if the letter “C” is followed by the letters “A”, “O”, or “U”. This is true in the words “can”, “corn”, and “cut”.
Some of the 5-letter words starting with 'c' are cared, cross, creep, crate, climb, etc.
Here is an easy way to remember whether to try c first or k first: c comes first in the alphabet and k comes second. That is the same order in which we try the letters when building a word. C and k are by far the most common ways to spell the sound of /k/ at the beginning of a word.
Another way to remember this rule: If a word has a short vowel sound and does not end in e, double the consonant before adding ing or ed. When adding a suffix to words that end with ic, change the ending to ick.
"AC/DC" is pronounced one letter at a time, though the band are colloquially known as "Acca Dacca" in Australia. The AC/DC band name is stylised with a high voltage sign separating the "AC" and "DC" and has been used on all studio albums, with the exception of the international version of Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.
The Y rule: When a root ends in y, change the y to i when adding a suffix (easy + est = easiest; happy + ness = happiness). Exceptions: Keep the y if a vowel comes before it (play + er = player; joy + ful = joyful).
I.e. and e.g. are both Latin abbreviations. E.g. stands for exempli gratia and means “for example.” I.e. is the abbreviation for id est and means “in other words.” Remember that E is for example (e.g.) and that I and E are the first letters of in essence, an alternative English translation of i.e.