Transcript “i” before “e” except after “c” or when it sounds like “a” as in neighbor

“i” before “e” except after
“c” or when it sounds like
“a” as in neighbor or weigh
“i” before “e” except
after “c”- what does
that even mean?
• MOST of the time, if you’re
confused whether a word is “ei”
or “ie”, use this rule:
– MOST of the time put “IE” (like
relief, chief, achieve)
– UNLESS “IE” is going to come
after the letter “C” (receipt,
ceiling) THEN switch to “EI”
"I" Before "E" Except After "C"
By Duncan McKenzie
It's a rule that is simple, concise and efficeint.
For all speceis of spelling it's more than sufficeint.
Against words wild and wierd, it's one law that shines bright
Blazing out like a beacon upon a great hieght,
It gives guidance impartial, sceintific and fair
In this language, this tongue to which we are all hier.
'Gainst the glaceirs of ignorance that icily frown,
This great precept gives warmth, like a thick iederdown.
Now, a few in soceity choose to deride,
To cast DOUBT on this anceint and venerable guide;
They unwittingly follow a foriegn agenda,
A plot hatched, I am sure, in some vile haceinda.
In our work and our liesure, our homes and our schools,
Let us follow our consceince, sieze proudly our rules!
Will I dilute my standards, make them vaguer and blither?
I say NO, I will not! I trust you will not iether.
Copy this chart into your notes.
“I” before
“e” (says
long e)
chief
field
belief
piece
brief
relieve
thief
priest
Except
after “c”
ceiling
deceive
receive
Sounds
like “a”
their
eight
reign
freight
sleigh
neighbor
Exceptions
seize
weird
leisure
species
Add the word to the chart in your
notes. Try to base your decision on
the “rules”; if no rule seems to apply,
add it to the exceptions column.
(Pencil only!)
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
foreign
fierce
siege
reindeer
veil
caffeine
protein
beige
surveillance
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
pie
forfeit
friend
yield
hygiene
glacier
receipt
Answer Key
“I” before
“e”
fierce
siege
pie
Except
after “c”
reindeer
veil
beige
surveillance
Exceptions
yield
foreign
caffeine
protein
forfeit
friend (or “I”
before “e”)
hygiene
glacier
friend *
receipt
Sounds
like “a”
Practice it!
• Write a rhyming poem ONLY using
“ie” words OR “ei” words. Highlight
the words you used. It should be 6-8
lines.
• Write all the “ei” words in
alphabetical order (exceptions, too!)
• Write a short story using all the “ie”
words. Highlight them within the
story. (Use the exceptions, too!)