Here's why:
* Long vowels are typically represented by the vowel itself (like "a" in "cake" or "e" in "tree").
* Short vowels often have a different spelling or are followed by a consonant (like "a" in "cat" or "e" in "bed").
In the word "toe," the vowel "o" is pronounced as a short vowel sound. It's the same sound as in words like "hot" or "top".
Let me know if you have any other words you'd like to analyze!