Common spellings:
* a_e: This is the most common way to spell the long a sound, as in cake, name, late. The silent "e" at the end of the word signals the long a sound.
* ai: This spelling is common in words like rain, sail, wait.
* ay: This spelling appears in words like day, play, say.
* ey: This spelling is often found in words like they, grey, obey.
* eigh: This combination is used in words like eight, neighbor, and weigh.
Less common spellings:
* ae: This combination appears in words like aerie (a nest of a bird of prey), Caesar, and aesthetic.
* ea: While commonly associated with the long e sound, it can also represent the long a sound in words like great, break, steak.
It's important to remember that there are exceptions to these rules, and some words have unique spellings for the long a sound. The best way to learn the spelling is to practice and familiarize yourself with common words and their pronunciations.