What is the spelling rule for the word cat? - briefly
The word "cat" follows the standard English spelling rule of representing the /k/ sound with the letter 'c' before the vowel 'a', which produces the short vowel sound /æ/.
What is the spelling rule for the word cat? - in detail
The spelling of the word "cat" follows the basic phonetic principles of English, where each letter corresponds to a specific sound. The word "cat" is spelled with the consonants 'c' and 't' and the vowel 'a'. In English, the letter 'c' often represents the /k/ sound when followed by the vowels 'a', 'o', or 'u', as in "cat," "cot," or "cut." The vowel 'a' in this context produces the short vowel sound /æ/, which is a common pronunciation in closed syllables where a single vowel is followed by a consonant. The letter 't' at the end of the word represents the /t/ sound, a voiceless alveolar plosive. Together, these letters form the word "cat," which is pronounced /kæt/. This spelling is consistent with the rules of English phonetics and orthography, making it a straightforward example of how letters combine to represent sounds in the language.