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.

Up next

play video schwa
The Schwa

 

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

play calendar that says day today
Is It 'day today' or 'day-to-day'?

 

What about Day Tomorrow?

play videos pictures in the dictionary
Pictures in the Dictionary

 

The story of those iconic illustrations.

play video cynic
The History of 'Cynic'

 

How an ancient philosophical movement devoted to the pursuit of virtue came to describe eye-rolling criticism.

play peter-sokolowski-indict-graphic
Video: Why is there a 'c' in 'indict'?

 

And who put it there, anyway?

play video its vs its
Its vs. It's

 

Some practical guidance, and interesting history, about a common mistake.

play video websters video of 1864
Webster's Dictionary of 1864

 

The landmark edition that transformed the way dictionaries are made.