Here's why:
* Short vowels have a short, quick sound. Think of the sounds in "cat," "bed," "hop," and "run."
* One consonant helps to clearly define the short vowel sound. For example, in "cat," the single consonant "t" helps us clearly hear the short "a" sound.
Here are some examples:
* Short a: cat, hat, man, fan
* Short e: bed, met, ten, pen
* Short i: pig, big, win, thin
* Short o: hot, top, dog, frog
* Short u: cup, bug, sun, fun
Exceptions:
* Digraphs: These are two letters that represent a single sound. Some digraphs, like "sh" or "th," can follow a short vowel. For example: "dish," "math."
* Consonant blends: These are groups of two or more consonants that are pronounced together. Consonant blends can also follow a short vowel. For example: "blend," "crash."
Important note: The rule of "one consonant" after a short vowel is a helpful guide, but there are some exceptions. The best way to learn how to spell words with short vowels is to practice and use a good dictionary!