/ɪ/ — the SIT vowel as in sit, big, this

The main spelling

The letter ⟨i⟩ covers about 60% of words with this sound.

Other common spellings (~35%)

⟨y⟩ ~20%

Common in words of Greek origin.

⟨e⟩ ~15%

Regular in many prefixes and suffixes (be-, de-, re-, -ed, -es, -est, -ness, -less).

Unusual spellings (~5%)

⟨u⟩

⟨o⟩

⟨ee⟩

⟨a⟩

Common in words ending in -age.

⟨ie⟩

⟨ei⟩

⟨ia⟩

In the unstressed ending of some words.

/ɪ/ vs /i/