In all these points the classical alphabets (one or both) were deficient. To make up for their insufficiency one of two things was necessary, either to coin new letters, or to use conventional combinations of the old.
In the Anglo-Saxon alphabet (derived from the Latin) we have the following features:—
1. C used to the exclusion of k.
2. The absence of the letter j, either with the power of y, as in German, of zh, as in French, or of dzh, as in English.
3. The absence of q; a useful omission, cw serving instead.
4. The absence of v; u, either single or double, being used instead.
5. The use of y as a vowel, and of e as y.
6. The absence of z.
7. Use of uu, as w, or v: Old Saxon.
8. The use, in certain conditions, of f for v.