English spelling is hard because words come from many source systems.

Evidence

The very thing that makes English such a rich language also makes its spelling so difficult. Words have entered modern English from many sources with different systems of spelling. Because words also bring their own pronunciations, phonetics is often an unreliable spelling aid. — Bryan A. Garner, Jeff Newman, Tiger Jackson, The Redbook, 200

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the general theme of English’s hybrid etymology and to any prior notes about why English orthography is inconsistent. — connects to: Standardized English spelling preserves traces of idiolectic variety. — Benedict Anderson, Imagined Communities: Reflections on…, 206

Related

• Standardized English spelling preserves traces of idiolectic variety. (similarity 0.81)