All 3 of these sounds happen inside the mouth with subtle differences.
Short E: Mouth is slightly wide, like a rectangle.
Short I: Right and left sides relax, mouth is like a square.
Schwa: All muscles are relaxed–this is the neutral sound.
*Short I as in sit is unrelated to the E sound in see.
| Short E | Short I | Schwa |
| en | in | un |
| bed | bid | bud |
| beg | big | bug |
| ben | bin | bun |
| better | bitter | butter |
| den | din | done |
| get | git | gut |
| med | mid | mud |
| met | mitt | mutt |
| net | knit | nut |
| peck | pick | puck |
| pet | pit | put (golf) |
| rest | wrist | rust |
| ten | tin | ton |
| went | win | one |
| 750 Business Words | I Sounds Main Page |
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