The /f/ sound is usually spelt with an f, or, if after a short vowel sound, the letters ff .
However, have you ever noticed that some words, like phone and alphabet, are pronounced with an f sound but are spelt with the letter combination ph?
This unusual spelling can be traced back to origins in Ancient Greek, where the letter phi (Φ) represented the f sound. Over time, this Ancient Greek influence found its way into the English language, giving us the ph spelling pattern.
As you become a more confident speller, you will begin to notice that this spelling pattern often appears in words which share the same Ancient Greek root, for example: photograph, photocopy, and photosynthesis all contain the root photo which is spelt using the letters ph.
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There are 26 letters in the alphabet.
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You can use an apostrophe to show that something belongs to someone.
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A hyphen can be used to join two words: good-looking.
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A phrase is a small group of words.
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The shop gave out a small pamphlet about its price cuts.
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The physician prescribed medicine.
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Please get me some pills from the pharmacy.
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Physical exercise is good for your health.
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Young elephants are called calves.
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The dolphin swam in the sea.
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She was convinced a phantom spirit haunted the house.
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My young nephew is called Luke.
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The prophet said a holy man would come.
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A child who has lost both parents is an orphan.
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The winning team held up the cup in triumph.
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A tsunami is a catastrophe.
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The speaker put much emphasis on his main point.
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Many people have a phobia or fear of spiders.
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The trophy is a constant reminder of his success.
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Two ships were sunk in the typhoon.
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