Why is "concern" spelled this way?

Discover the logic behind this word and learn how understanding spelling patterns can transform your writing confidence.

concern

con•cern

Step 1: Syllable Breakdown

conRule: O makes schwa before W, TH, M, N, VSpelling rules applied: O makes schwa before W, TH, M, N, V

cernRule: C is soft (s sound) before E, I, Y; hard (k sound) elsewhereSpelling rules applied: C is soft (s sound) before E, I, Y; hard (k sound) elsewhere

Step 2: Words Spelt From concern

cern= To separate, distinguish, or sift.

Step 3: Putting It All Together

concern- To worry or make someone anxious.

Spelling Notes

This word follows Rule 28b. The 'o' makes a short 'u' (schwa) sound before 'n', so it sounds like 'con-cern' even though it's spelt with an 'o'. The 'c' at the beginning has a hard 'k' sound. Understanding this rule helps you spell words where 'o' sounds like 'uh' before certain letters.

Breaking words down into their syllables and analyzing why a word is spelled the way it is will drive you to be a better all-around speller, not just learning this single word. This is what strong spellers do subconsciously.

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