I Before E Rule

The classic spelling rule: i before e except after c

beginner

When to Use

•I before E: believe, achieve, friend, piece, field.
•Except after C: receive, ceiling, deceive, receipt.
•When sounding like 'ay': neighbor, weigh, eight, vein.
•Exceptions: weird, seize, either, neither, leisure, protein.
•Scientific words often break the rule: science, species.

How to Form

Affirmative (+)

I before E in most words; E before I after C or for 'ay' sound

Negative (-)

Same rules apply

Question (?)

Same rules apply

💡 Many exceptions exist. When in doubt, check a dictionary.

Examples

✓believe, achieve, friend

✗beleive, acheive, freind

I before E (not after C).

✓receive, ceiling, deceive

✗recieve, cieling, decieve

E before I after C.

✓neighbor, weigh, eight

✗nieghbor, wiegh, ieght

E before I when sounding like 'ay'.

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

• Basic rule: I before E, except after C.
• Or when sounding like 'ay' (neighbor, weigh).
• Memorize common exceptions: weird, seize, either, neither.
• When unsure, check a dictionary.

doubling-consonants plural-irregular silent-letters 📝 spelling-beginner 📝 ie-ei-quiz

I Before E Rule

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

I Before E Rule

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗recieve

✗wierd

✗nieghbor

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗recieve

✗wierd

✗nieghbor

💡 Practice Tips

Related