The following list shows the general rules of phonics for the English language. Keep in mind that these are general rules, and that there are many exceptions.
1. When there are two vowels side-by-side, the long sound of the first
vowel is heard and the second is usually silent.
Example: "bead"
Exception: "Chief"
2. When the vowel is in the middle of a one-syllable word, the vowel
sound is short.
Example "dress"
Exception: "scold"
3. If the only vowel is at the end of the word, the vowel usually has
a long sound
Example: "he"
Exception: "to"
4. When there are two vowels and one is an 'e' at the end of the word,
the first vowel is long and the 'e' is silent
Example: "bone"
Exception: "done"
5. A vowel followed by the letter 'r' is neither long nor short.
Example: "horn"
Exception: "wire"
6. In the combinations 'ai', 'ea', 'oa', and 'ui', the first vowel
is long and the second vowel is silent
Example (ai): nail
Example (ea): bead
Example (oa): road
Example (ui): suit
Exception (ai): said
Exception (ea): head
Exception (oa): board
Exception (ui): build
7. In the combination 'ie', the 'e' is long and the 'i' is silent
Example: field
Exception: friend
8. Words having a double 'e' have a long 'e' sound
Example: need
Exception: been
9. Words ending with an 'e' and having an 'a' or 'i', the 'e' is silent
and the 'a' or 'i' has a long sound
Example: cake
Exception: have
10. In the combination 'ay', the 'a' is long and the 'y' is silent
Example: play
Exception: mayonnaise
11. In the combination 'igh', the 'i' is long and the 'gh' is silent
Example: high
Exception: neighbor
12. In the combination 'wa', the 'a' has the same sound as in the word
'wash'
Example: watch
Exception: swam
13. In the combination 'ew', the word has a long 'u' sound
Example: blew
Exception: sew
14. The combination 'ow' has a long 'o' sound
Example: own
Exception: down
15. When 'w' follows a vowel, the vowel has a long sound and the 'w'
is silent
Example: crow
Exception: threw
16. When the last letter in a word is 'y', it has a long 'e' or 'i'
sound
Example: dry
Exception: tray
17. When a word contains 'y', it has a long 'i' sound
Example: lying
Exception: you
18. When 'a' is followed by 'l', 'w', or 'u', it has the same sound
as in the word 'awe'
Example: Paula
Exception: canal
19. When 'a' is followed by 'r' and a final 'e', it has the same sound
as the word 'err'
Example: care
Exception: are
20. The combination 'ch' has a single sound
Example: peach
Exception: There is no exception to this rule
21. The combination 'ch' has the same sound as in the words 'chimney'
or 'chair', not the sound of 'sh'
Example: catch
Exception: machine
22. In the combination 'ce' or 'ci', the 'c' has an 's' sound
Example: cent or circle
Exception: ocean
23. In the combination 'co' or 'ca', the 'c' has a 'k' sound
Example: camp
Exception: There is no exception to this rule
24. In the combination 'gi' or 'ge', the 'g' has the sound of 'j'
Example: engine or age
Exception: give or geese
25. In the combination 'ght', the 'gh' is silent
Example: fight
Exception: There is no exception to this rule
26. When a word begins with 'kn', the 'k' is silent
Example: knife
Exception: There is no exception to this rule
27. When a word begins with 'wr', the 'w' is silent
Example: write
Exception: There is no exception to this rule
28. When two similar consonants are side-by-side, only one is heard
Example: carry
Exception: suggest
29. When a word ends in 'ck', the 'c' is silent
Example: clock
Exception: There is no exception to this rule
30. In most two-syllable words, the first syllable is accented
Example: famous
Exception: polite
31. if the first syllable of a word is 'a', 'in', 're', 'ex', 'de',
or 'be', that syllable is not accented
Example: belong
E xception: insect
32. In most two-syllable words that end in a consonant and a final
'y', the first syllable is accented and the second unaccented
Example: baby
Exception: supply
33. One vowel in an accented syllable has a short sound
Example: city
Exception: lady
34. 'y' oe 'ey' in a last unaccented syllable has the long 'e' sound
Example: baby
Exception: There is no exception to this rule
35. When the combination 'ture' or 'tion' is the final syllable of
a word, it is unaccented
Example: picture or station
Exception: There is no exception to this rule
36. In many two- or three-syllable words, the final 'e' lengthens the
vowel in the last syllable
Example: invite
Exception: gasoline
37. If the first vowel in a word is followed by two consonants, the
first syllable ends with the first of the two consonants
Example: bullet
Exception: singer
38. If the first vowel is followed by a single consonant, the first
syllable ends with the vowel
Example: over
Exception: oven
39. If the last syllable of a word ends in 'le', the consonant preceding
the 'le' begins the last syllable
Example: tumble
Exception: buckle
40. When the first vowel of a word is followed by the consonant pairs
'th', 'ch', or 'sh', the consonant pair is not broken. It can be part
of either the first or second syllable
Example: dishes
Exception: There is no exception to this rule
41. In a word with more than one consonant, the letter 'v' goes with a preceding
vowel to form a syllable
Example: cover
Exception: clover
42. When a word has only a single vowel, it has a short sound
Example: hid
Exception: kind
43. When there is one 'e' in a word ending in a consonant, the 'e'
has a short sound
Example: leg
Exception: blew
44. When the last syllable has the sound 'r', it is unaccented
Example: butter
Exception: appear