Questions tagged [letters-of-the-alphabet]
This tag is for questions about the letters of the alphabet.
37
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Differences between pronouncing the 'G' and 'J' in US/British English
I'm currently pronouncing:
g as /dgi/
j as /djay/
I'm not sure if this is the American or Britisch way to pronounce it.
If it depends on the choice of words, I was just singing the alphabet.
...
1
vote
2
answers
65
views
How to say that a word has many the same letters?
How to say that a word has many the same letters?
For example in the word "carrot" I should say:
two "R"s.
or
two r letters.
3
votes
2
answers
232
views
The usage of Yours faithfully and Yours sincerely
I have a question regarding some valedictions in emails. As you know, “Yours faithfully” and “Yours sincerely” are sign-off phrases primarily used in British English.
These are the generally accepted ...
3
votes
1
answer
80
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What are the English names of letters? [duplicate]
All languages which I know other than English have names for letters which can be written as words. Does English have them, and what are they? I haven't seen them anywhere, but they are not something ...
0
votes
2
answers
51
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Why is first letter capatalize in the word "Elysian"?
In Sweet Smell of Success (1957), Steve speaks to Susan on phone:
Susan: Where are you?
Steve: We're on our way to the Elysian to dicker with Van Cleve.
Why is first letter capatalize in the word &...
10
votes
5
answers
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What is the difference between a letter and a character?
Can anyone tell me the difference between a letter and a character in the English language ?
What I found so far:
letter is the basic unit of alphabet and
character is a symbol.
Is there any ...
1
vote
1
answer
119
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"It's V."or"It's a V."?
I'm confused by the sentences "-What's this? -It's V."in our textbook.As I know, letters are countable, right? But why there isn't a "a" in front of the"V"?Shouldn't it ...
19
votes
2
answers
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Why is editted wrong?
The general rule is that when we have vowel + consonant + vowel we should double the consonant, in order to properly pronounce the whole word.
The examples include: submitted , shipping, etc.
So why ...
32
votes
2
answers
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The Ö letter in "Coördinator"
I was watching some Pink Panther episodes on YouTube, and I noticed something weird.
The word COORDINATOR is written COÖRDINATOR with an Ö.
I searched for it in dictionaries and etymology references ...
17
votes
3
answers
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How can I tell whether "c" should be pronounced like "s" or like "k"?
How can I tell whether "c" should be pronounced "s" or "k"? I always get confused and pronounce it like "s" because it looks like russian "с".
16
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2
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Why do dictionaries write /p/ instead of /pʰ/ for 'pie' in the ipa?
Prompted by this question: The pronunciations of letter "P" in "explain, explore, explode" and in "expensive, expand"
My question is that if English has two kinds of Ps (...
6
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3
answers
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How is “X” pronounced in English?
The letter x can sound (most often) like [gz] and [ks]:
[gz] in words like exam, exactly.
[ks] in word like extra, hexagon, etc.
I have found that x is pronounced [gz] whenever it’s in or before the ...
25
votes
6
answers
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The correct capital G and J in cursive
I've come across two versions of writing a capital G and a capital J in cursive. I cannot understand which one is correct because Wikipedia shows that the capital G from my textbook is, in fact, the ...
102
votes
7
answers
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Why does the i in "naïve" have two dots?
I have observed that the word naïve is written with two dots on the i. Why is this? Is it correct to write the word with a single dot, as in naive?
Are there any other English words with such two dots?...
1
vote
1
answer
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Why do native speakers say '0' like 'O'?
I read this question (Should the number “0” be pronounced “zero” or “oh”?) and answers on English Language and Usage but my question is not the same as that one.
My question is basically why most ...
3
votes
2
answers
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Lowercase/capital Greek letters written in English
Consider two examples:
Gamma function written as Γ(n);
gamma-butyrolactone written as γ-butyrolactone.
Is there a rule which says how the lowercase and capital Greek letters must be reflected when ...
-1
votes
1
answer
116
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words that starts with c but does not sound as k [closed]
The title say it all, i'am looking for all the list of words which starts with c but does not sound as k, as many know most of the words that starts with c usally have a k sound in it, e.g cat,clam,...
3
votes
3
answers
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The pronunciation of the article "a"?
The word "a" has two pronunciations: (aa) when the mouth is widely opened and (ei) when the mouth is not wide open. I just want to know the difference between them.
People have asked questions like ...
0
votes
1
answer
38
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Is a group of letters a sentence? [closed]
Is a group of letters a sentence?
I am wondering if a group of a bunch of letters,
Is a Sentence?
Thank you!
1
vote
2
answers
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Latin letters VS English letters
How do you likely to say for non-English speaker to use letters from the English alphabet (e.g. to write down something or to create a nickname)?
Do you say use Latin letters or English letters?
1
vote
2
answers
504
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Why is R "ar" instead of "er"?
In the names of letters, the e is predominant: ef, em, el, es. Why is R different? Why ar instead of er?
0
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0
answers
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Is it "Zee" or "Zed"? [duplicate]
When is "z" pronounced "zee" and when "zed"?
From what I found out "zee" is AmE and "zed" is BrE. And in abbreviations the letter is always pronounced "zee" like in LZ (landing zone).
3
votes
1
answer
215
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Letter "s" in a shape of a sail
Sometimes in archaic books and in different scrolls, books and texts in old games I meet the letter "s" resembling a sail (Wikipedia article here calls it the cursive form).
Is it still used in ...
0
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1
answer
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A question about using articles before a single letter in the alphabet [duplicate]
I want to brush up my English and I just started to read some Grammar books.
When I read the section about how to use an article before a single letter, it says that we have to use "a" or "an" ...
0
votes
1
answer
234
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C as "c" in all abbreviations or acronyms
Does letter "c" read as [c] in all abbreviations or acronyms?
BBC - company [k]
PC - computer [k]
RC - compiler [k]
Are there any abbreviations or acronyms where the letter C doesn't read as [c]?
1
vote
1
answer
83
views
How to explain the pronunciations of brother and breakfast
My nephew is 4 and start reading a lot in English,his mother language is not English., he asked me why the “o” in the word brother is “∧" not "⊃" sorry I can't find how to type the letters, and ...
3
votes
1
answer
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Why does 'g' sometimes read as 'j'?
Most words with 'g' read as 'g'
Geek
Goose
Goods
Goal
But sometimes 'g' reads as 'j'
Gymnastics
Genesis
Genius
Genetic
And in the middle of a sentence, compare:
Log
Logistics
Or
Frag
Fragile
6
votes
5
answers
12k
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What is the use of letter "Q" instead we can spell using letter "C" or "K"
This morning my son asked me the following question that I was unable to answer:
What is the point of the letter Q? Why can't we just always use C or K instead?
For example, "Question" ...
3
votes
2
answers
230
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What is the name of the sign used in English words derived from French words?
Consider:
cliché = a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought.
blasé = unimpressed with or indifferent to something because one has experienced or seen it so ...
3
votes
1
answer
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What is it? I have 3S or I have 3Ss
If we have 3 'A' passes in an exam, We often say "I have 3As". But If we have 3 'S' passes, how to express it? I mean, is it correct to say "I have 3Ss"
If it's correct to say "I have 3Ss", how to ...
8
votes
2
answers
2k
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Referring to letters of the alphabet
In Italian, letters can be referred to using their noun. For example, when speaking of the letter M, I could say La lettera emme è l'undicesima lettera dell'alfabeto italiano. (that is, "M is the 11th ...
2
votes
1
answer
826
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"Difference Between Times in Hours For Writing Letters"
What is the difference between '8:00 o'clock' and saying only '8' in writing letters?
When we can use the first one and when we can use the second one?
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2
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The order of letters in the English alphabet
On what logical basis are the English letters in the alphabet (a, b, c, ... x, y, z serially arranged? Is there a pattern in the occurrence of vowels (a, e, i, o, and u)? Is the sequence they follow ...
3
votes
3
answers
274
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As what do you read this letter?
As what do you read the first letter in the picture above? Is it a Greek or an English?
4
votes
1
answer
9k
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How to identify the correct pronunciation for letter "g" before "i" or "e"
It's really confusing when to be sure if the letter g is to be pronounced like giraffe or like girl. Both are followed by i. So how can we know the difference? On the other hand, we have gender and ...
0
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1
answer
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when typing a local musical instrument
Geomungo is a Korean musical instrument. When I type this word, do I have to use capital G, or small g as in guitar? For the instrument is used in quite a small area and has not that popularity like ...
3
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4
answers
352
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How to identify the sound of an "A" without altering the spelling of the word?
I have the word "Carr" (short for the name Carrie).
Is there a way to write the 'a' so that a person reading the word 'Carr' would pronounce it like care ('kær), opposed to pronouncing it like car (...