I, E Combination

The combination of “i” and “e” in English spelling can be tricky, but there are a few general rules that can help. These rules are often summarized with the saying: “I before E, except after C, or when sounded as A, as in neighbor and weigh.” However, there are many exceptions to these rules.

Rule:#

• “I before E”: Write “ie” when the sound is a long “e”.

  • Example: believe, field, chief.

• “Except after C”: Write “ei” when the sound is a long “e” and follows a “c”.

  • Example: receive, ceiling, deceive.

• “Or when sounded as A”: Write “ei” when the sound is a long “a”.

  • Example: neighbor, weigh, sleigh.

Exceptions:#

While the basic rule covers many words, there are several exceptions and additional considerations:

• Words with a Long “e” Sound:

  • Exceptions to “I before E”: neither, weird, seize, leisure.
  • Exceptions after “C”: species, science, sufficient.

• Other Vowel Sounds:

  • Some words with “ei” do not fit the basic rules: eight, vein, foreign, forfeit.
  • Some words with “ie” do not fit the basic rules: friend, mischief, ancient.

• Words with Neither Long “e” Nor Long “a” Sound:

  • Some words have “ie” or “ei” with different vowel sounds: either, height, their, heir.