The cqu/q words
This is one of the trickier spelling rules and blends.
The spelling of this sound is 'cqu" but is pronounced as "q."
The rule for spelling a "cqu" word is that "cqu" when preceded by the letter "a," has short a vowel sound and hard c sound. For example, acquit.
Word List (17)
acquaintance
acquire
acquisition
acquit
lacquer
acquiesce
unacquainted
racquetball
acquirable
picquet
jacquard
aqueduct
lacquerware
acquitted
acquiescence
acquiesce
acquirement