a simple rule for the letter G

1. Sane English for KGU
Students
Rowan E Wagner
The Letter ‘G’

2. Rule 2: C may soften to /j/ when followed by E,I or Y
Otherwise, G says /g/
/j/
germ ginger biology angelic agile allergy

3. G is the only single-letter phonogram which
spells the sound /g/. Therefore in a few words, G
retains its hard sound /g/ before E,I, or Y
/g/
get gift gynecology anger begin argyle

4. When is not followed by E, I, or Y, it must say
/g/
- before the vowels A,O,U,
gap goat begun cardigan archipelago configure
- before a consonant,
glad granular magnet
- and at the end of the word
egg crag leg

5. Italian words insert a silent letter h to separate
the G from the E or an I to retain the hard /g/
sound, forming the advanced phonogram gh
/g/
ghetto spaghetti

6. French and Spanish words insert a silent letter u
to support the G from E or I to retain the hard /g/
sound, forming the phonogram gu
/g/
plague guide guerilla guitar

7. This rule also helps to explain the multi-letter
phonogram dge. G is followed by an E, causing
the G to say /j/
/j/
wedge drudge bridge fridge

8. References
• Uncovering the LOGIC of English; A Common-Sense
Approach to Reading, Spelling and Literacy by Denise Eide
• LANE’S ENGLISH Pronunciation Guide by Richard R. Lane,
PhD
• HOT WORDS for the SAT (5th Ed.) by Linda Carnevale, M.A.