Tip 2 - "ie" versus "ei"
We've all heard the "i" before "e" except after "c", and then you discover too many exceptions to name. BUT if you learn the complete rule you will find there are very few exceptions. Here is the complete rule:
"I" before "E" except after C
Or when sounded like "I" as in Einstein
Or "A" as in neighbor and weigh
Neither, weird, foreign, leisure, seize, forfeit are common exceptions spelled right
But don't let the C-I-E-N words get you uptight.
(NOTE: Depending on how you pronounce "neither" it may not be an exception!)
Examples ;
Use I before E "ie" = believe, field, yield, priest, shield
Except after C "cei" =receive, receipt, conceited, conceive
Or when sounded as "I" as in Einstein "ei" = height, sleight, stein
Or "A" as in weigh "A" "ei" = weigh, weight, neighbor, sleigh, beige, heir, their
"But don't let the C-I-E-N words get you uptight." There are no C-E-I-N words in the English language! Science, ancient, sufficient.
Also - remember all parts of the rule are for digraphs only and do not apply when the i and e each make a distinct sound.
here is a list of the exceptions I have found...
caffeine
casein
codeine
either (depending on how you pronounce it, it is or isn’t an exception)
foreign
forfeit
heifer
sovereign
weird
financier
keister
leisure
monteith
onomatopoeia
sheikh, sheik
neither (depending on how you pronounce it)
obeisance
melopoeia
mythopoeia
pharmacopoeia
prosopopoeia
rhythmpoeia
protein
seize
seizing
counterfeit
madeira
plebeian
pleiades
reveille
glacier
Do you have an exception that I missed? Contact Me
