When writing English we use the 26 letters of the alphabet. However, when speaking there are roughly 44 different sounds in English. If you're concentrating on the sounds of English, you need 44 ...

It is simply a matter of learning which letters are silent in certain combinations ... Listen carefully to native English speakers' pronunciation of these words. The plum(b)er's thum(b) got ...

The word ‘scent’ has a silent letter. Understanding silent letters helps in learning proper English pronunciation.