Top 10 Phonics Rules

•    Every word must contain a vowel. The vowels are: a, e, i, o, u, and y ( y is a consonant when at the beginning of a word). Eg: A, me, sit, no, up, my

•    When a one syllable word ends in a consonant and has only one vowel, that vowel is short. Eg: mat, red, fish, sock, rug.


•    When a syllable ends in a silent "e," the vowel that comes before the silent "e" is long. Eg: lake, gene, kite, rope, use.

•    When w is before "or", the "or" says "er". (work, word, - but not sword)


•    Qu are always together. Eg: queen, quarrel, quick, quiet

•    When "g" is followed by "e, i, or y," it usually has the soft sound of "j." Eg: gem, gym


•    When "c" is followed by "e, i, or y," it usually has the soft sound of "s." Eg: city, cent, cygnet

•    When a syllable ends in a vowel and is the only vowel, that vowel is usually long. Eg: "la/ter, me, I, o/pen, u/nique, my".


•    When 2 consonants join together and form one new sound, they are called 'consonant digraphs'. They count as one sound. Eg: "ch, sh, th, ph, wh".

•    When a syllable has 2 vowels together, the first vowel is usually long and the second is silent. Eg: "rain, meat, coat, res/cue, day,". NOTE: Diphthongs don't follow this rule