Questions tagged [letters-of-the-alphabet]

This tag is for questions about the letters of the alphabet.

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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 &...
May Penelope's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
82 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 sing-off phrases primarily used in British English. These are the generally accepted ...
Beqa's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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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 ...
Ayden's user avatar
  • 11
19 votes
2 answers
3k views

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 ...
Snack Exchange's user avatar
32 votes
2 answers
4k views

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 ...
Hamdiken's user avatar
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16 votes
2 answers
2k views

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 (...
Lasshatry's user avatar
  • 163
1 vote
1 answer
806 views

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 ...
user avatar
25 votes
6 answers
40k views

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 ...
Let's user avatar
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-1 votes
1 answer
56 views

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,...
cryptic man's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
35 views

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!
please-don't-come's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
1k views

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?
Gamilato's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
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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?
Carlos Arturo Serrano's user avatar
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0 answers
72 views

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).
SovereignSun's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
187 views

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 ...
SovereignSun's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
5k views

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" ...
luimichael's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
53 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.
user252319's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
2k views

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 ...
andselisk's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
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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]?
SovereignSun's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
80 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 ...
user1051003's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
8k views

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
SovereignSun's user avatar
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6 votes
3 answers
5k views

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 ...
Maurocrispin's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
229 views

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 ...
Cardinal's user avatar
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5 votes
6 answers
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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. ...
Decypher's user avatar
  • 153
10 votes
5 answers
91k views

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 ...
Karanam Vishnu Vardhan's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
2k views

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 ...
Dinusha's user avatar
  • 1,597
103 votes
7 answers
92k views

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?...
Masked Man's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
815 views

"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?
Ice Girl's user avatar
  • 4,237
8 votes
2 answers
2k views

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 ...
Narasimham's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
270 views

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?
Listenever's user avatar
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3 votes
3 answers
32k views

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 ...
Michael George's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
52 views

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 ...
Listenever's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
9k views

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 ...
Safi's user avatar
  • 105
3 votes
4 answers
344 views

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 (...
Michael's user avatar
  • 31
6 votes
5 answers
11k views

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" ...
Anna.P's user avatar
  • 215
17 votes
3 answers
92k views

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".
Артем Иванов's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
2k views

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 ...
apaderno's user avatar
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