How do you know if it's a short o or a long o?

Answer 1

A long o "says" its name, as in home or note. A short o is pronounced "awww" as in odd or clock.

Answer 2

A short "o" sound is usually found in closed syllables where the vowel is followed by a consonant (e.g., "hot"). A long "o" sound is typically found in open syllables or with a silent final "e" in words (e.g., "hope"). Patterns and common spelling rules can also help determine the pronunciation of the letter "o" in different words.