Hed for hights?

7 January 2005

Masha Bell is right that words with irregular spelling make learning to read harder (TES, December 17). The mechanism for such a change is likely to follow the pattern that changed words like shew and grey to show and gray: that both forms are accepted and coexist, with the more regular one slowly becoming the norm.

As adults we need to be willing to to accept as alternative forms such spellings as friend/frend, they/thay, height/hight, believe/beleve, and head/hed.

CHRISTOPHER JOLLY
Managing Director, Jolly Learning Ltd
Chigwell, Essex

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