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Glossary

Silent e (VCe)

A silent e, or vowel-consonant-e pattern, is a final e that makes the vowel before the consonant say its long sound, as in cake, bike and hope.

It is usually the first long-vowel pattern taught and a frequent source of confusion with short-vowel words (cap and cape, kit and kite).

Why it matters for the record

Rate reading and spelling separately here. Many students read VCe words well before they spell them reliably.