play video schwa
Usage Notes

The Schwa

The most common vowel sound in English causes many spelling problems.


The schwa is one significant reason that English is difficult to spell. A single sound that can be spelled many different ways leads to occasional confusion for almost all of us. And even the very best spellers sometimes have to admit, I fought the schwa and the schwa won.

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play video schwa
The Schwa

 

The most common vowel sound in English causes many spelling problems.

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They started as same word, but their meanings have drifted apart over time.

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Old-School Grammar

 

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