Many cultures find that English might possibly be one of the most difficult languages to learn. Not, in fact, for its words, but for the fact that it has so many unusual and contradictory rules. Just looking over an English study book will tell you that so many odd ifs and buts apply to so many words that it is enough to drive one crazy.
Found these fascinating and wanted to share on Ermiliablog.
I was disappointed none of these really had anything to do with unusual or contradictory rules, like WEIRD or whatever.
Some of these are interesting observations, although its not as much fun knowing crossword search engines came up with most of them. I really liked the THEREIN and STARTLING facts.
I thought this one counted as a “rule” ish, but rereading them after your comment I can see what you mean.
“Ough” can be pronounced in eight different ways. The following sentence contains them all: “A rough-coated, dough-faced ploughman strode through the streets of Scarborough, coughing and hiccoughing thoughtfully.