Why do you spell without but is with What the rule?

You're right to notice a difference! There isn't a single hard-and-fast rule for this, but it boils down to how words have evolved over time in the English language.

Here's a breakdown:

* "Without" and "with" are both prepositions. They share a common root, the Old English word "with" (meaning "against").

* Over time, the prefix "with-" was used to create new words. "Without" formed by adding "out" (meaning "away, absent") to "with."

So, the reason "without" has "out" while "with" doesn't is simply because the "out" part is necessary to express its meaning of "being without something."

Here's another interesting point:

* Although they look similar, the spelling of "without" and "with" doesn't directly reflect their meanings.

* "Without" doesn't necessarily mean "not with" – it can mean "not having" or "lacking."

* For example: "He went without food for a day" means he didn't have food, not that he was with something else.

It's a quirky aspect of language that often comes down to historical development!