Main spellings (~90%)
⟨o_e⟩ ~40%
The split digraph ⟨o_e⟩ (o + consonant + silent e) is the most common spelling in closed syllables.
⟨o⟩ ~30%
Plain ⟨o⟩ makes this sound in open syllables, at the end of words, and before certain consonants.
⟨ow⟩ ~20%
The spelling ⟨ow⟩ appears at the end of words and sometimes in the middle.
Watch out: ⟨ow⟩ can also make the /aʊ/ sound as in now and cow. Compare: show vs how, slow vs plow.
Unusual spellings (~10%)
⟨oa⟩
A common pattern in the middle of words.
⟨ough⟩
One of several pronunciations for this tricky spelling.
Tricky spelling: ⟨ough⟩ has six different sounds!
/aʊ/: bough
/oʊ/: although, dough, though
/ɔ/: bought, brought, fought, ought, thought
/ɔf/: cough
/u/: through
/ʌf/: enough, rough, tough
Two ways to see this: You can think of ⟨ough⟩ as an unusual spelling of /oʊ/, or as a silent ⟨gh⟩ after ⟨ou⟩ — see the
silent GH page. Both are valid.
⟨ou⟩
A small group of words, mostly before ⟨l⟩.
⟨eau⟩
From French. A fancy spelling for a simple sound.
⟨ew⟩
Just a few words use ⟨ew⟩ for this sound.
Note: ⟨ew⟩ usually makes /u/ as in new or /ju/ as in few. The word sew is an exception.
⟨oe⟩
A handful of common words end in ⟨oe⟩ (the ⟨e⟩ is silent).
⟨au⟩
From French.
⟨aoh⟩
Just one word.
⟨ot⟩
French loanwords with silent ⟨t⟩.
Two ways to see this: You can think of ⟨ot⟩ as an unusual spelling of /oʊ/, or as a silent ⟨t⟩ after ⟨o⟩ — see the
silent T page. Both are valid.