Why is the s silent in debris? Silent letters are as common as mud in English. Why that one in particular? The t in ballet is also silent, and the t in depot and beret, and the w in answer and sword, and the p in psyche and pneumonia, and the b in

I was researching the pattern of silent letters and was about to post a question on this forum when I found this site: http://www.eleaston.com/pr/sl-pat-pb.html After going through the list, I was surprised that there are so many. I pronounce

"Superconducting quantum interference device" is respelled to the local pronunciation spelling norm in the Philippines "Superkondakting kuwantum interferens debays." But then none of those words relates in any way to real

If a word has one or two syllables it's usually spelled with "s" in both I've never heard any such rule. The only one I know is "did it originally, or through derivation via Latin ... in -izein". You are the first

This adoption of Y for thorn then led back into ... in pre-letterpress days except by mistake; nothing deliberate about it.) This is very interesting stuff. I understand that one of the reasons for English being so un-phonetic is that the ... its

In the expression "Double or quits" Why isn't it "quit"? The noun "quits" with an S has been around for quite a while. Merriam-Webster.com says, Main Entry: quits Pronunciation: kwits Function: adjective

You might or might not accept lien (1- or 2-syl, right to retain property; 2-syl, spleen) as the two words share a 2-syllabled pronunciation. 1 : a charge upon real or personal property for the satisfaction of some debt or duty ordinarily arising