1.1.8

i Before e Rule

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‘i' Before 'e' Except After 'c’

The ‘i' before 'e' except after 'c’ rule helps us to decide whether to spell a word using ‘ie’ or ‘ei’.

Illustrative background for Use ‘ie’ in most cases
Illustrative background for Use ‘ie’ in most cases
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Use ‘ie’ in most cases

  • For example:
    • Believe.
    • Fierce.
    • Friend.
    • Thief.
    • Field.
Illustrative background for Except after 'c'Illustrative background for Except after 'c' ?? "content

Except after 'c'

  • If there is a ‘c’ before these two letters, we use ‘ei’ in most cases.
Illustrative background for Use 'ei' after 'c' in most casesIllustrative background for Use 'ei' after 'c' in most cases ?? "content

Use 'ei' after 'c' in most cases

  • For example:
    • Ceiling.
    • Receive.
    • Conceive.
    • Deceive.
    • Perceive.
Illustrative background for Exceptions to the ruleIllustrative background for Exceptions to the rule ?? "content

Exceptions to the rule

  • The word ‘science’ uses the letter ‘c’, followed by ‘ie’.
  • Some words are spelled using ‘ei’, despite not following the letter ‘c’. For example:
    • Caffeine.
    • Seize.
    • Either.
    • Neither.
    • Protein.
    • Eight.

Jump to other topics

1Spelling

2Punctuation

3Grammar

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