Decoding and spelling exercises: /e/ vs /ɪ/

Since the spelling of // and /ɪ/ is often the same, many students confuse these two sounds, even if they are able to pronounce them. For example, the word "reject" is often pronounced as instead of

Spelling
// is always followed by one or more consonants. In derived words a single consonant is usually doubled (let, letting; red, reddish).

There are many words which have "e" in the first syllable. In many cases if you know the stress you can predict the pronunciation and viceversa

"e" as //

 * Stressed "e" in the first syllable as //: center, ever, level, member, present (n), question, recognize, record (n), second, whether
 * Stressed "e" in the second syllable as //: asset, develop, effect, together,

"e" as /ɪ/

 * Stressed "e" in the first syllable as /ɪ/: England, English, pretty

Unstressed // and /ɪ/
// can't be unstressed; in practice it will have a secondary stress.

"e" as //

 * Unstressed "e" in the first syllable as //:
 * ending in "tion": celebration, definition, education, emigration, explanation, generation, presentation, regulation,
 * other: energetic, presidential, technology


 * Unstressed "e" in the second syllable as //: project (n.)

"e" as /ɪ/

 * Unstressed "e" in the first syllable as /ɪ/: because, become, before, begin, believe, between, description, effect, enough, especially, expect, result, return
 * Unstressed "e" in the second syllable as /ɪ/: benefit, knowledge

"a" as /ɪ/

 * Unstressed "a" in the second syllable as /ɪ/:
 * ending in "age": advantage, average, image, manage, message, language
 * other: orange, palace, spinach, surface

"i" as /ɪ/

 * Unstressed "i" in the first syllable as /ɪ/:
 * two-syllable words: discuss, divide, himself, improve, include, increase, instead, involve, itself, without
 * other: discover, discussion, historical, important, information, investment, significant, situation

Homonyms

 * /ɪ/: elicit - illicit; ensure (make sure) - insure (buy insurance)

Variant spellings

 * enquire - inquire ; enquiry - inquiry ;
 * make sure: ensure - insure