If a teacher asked students to write a grapheme that makes the sound /k/, what could they write?

If a teacher asked students to write a grapheme that makes the sound /k/, what could they write?

• A. k
• B. c
• C. All of the above
• D. ck

Answer: (C)

The sound /k/ can be written with different spellings in English. The single letter k clearly represents /k/ as in kite. The letter c can also spell /k/ when it comes before certain vowels (as in cat or corn), though c can also stand for /s/ in other contexts. The two-letter combination ck is a common way to spell /k/ after a short vowel, as in duck or back. Since each of these graphemes can produce the /k/ sound in the right word, all of the above could be written to represent /k/.

The sound /k/ can be written with different spellings in English. The single letter k clearly represents /k/ as in kite. The letter c can also spell /k/ when it comes before certain vowels (as in cat or corn), though c can also stand for /s/ in other contexts. The two-letter combination ck is a common way to spell /k/ after a short vowel, as in duck or back. Since each of these graphemes can produce the /k/ sound in the right word, all of the above could be written to represent /k/.