Background

Most often the /b/ sound in the initial, final, and medial positions is made by the consonant b as it is represented in words such as bat, tab, and number. The use of the consonant b is very consistent--it only makes this one sound. However, when b is doubled, one b is silent, such as in blubber. It is also silent when it follows m in one-syllable words such as limb, comb, and tomb, as well as when it precedes t in words like doubt and debt.