i before the e

[luckyju]

if the saying says, i before e except after c, then why is it that in some words are spelt e i and theres not a c in the word?

[squarebear]

Because it's not an exact rule and one that applies most of the time but not always.

[sally1001]

i know it as "i before e except after c or before g". does that sort out the anomalies? if not then i dont have a clue.

[squarebear]

No because you could still have words like "weird". It's a pretty useless rule if truth be told.

[cheries]

Welcome to the wonder that is the English Language!!!

[heathfield]

It's sometimes because some of our words are derived from foreign languages that don't have that rule.

[TheWinner]

I was always taught by my english teacher that the rule was:


I before E = EXCEPT after C

OR........... if the sound was E

(which would apply to words like WEird)

[THECORBYLOON]

What about the word "FANCIED?" It has an "E" sound AND it is after a "C," yet it is "IE" and not "EI"

[taichiperson]

But that is a verb - fancy/fancied and not fancyed, if that makes any sense.

[squarebear]

But that rule wouldn't cover words like "their". That doesn't sound like E.

[luckyju]

aw well, it was a conversation i had with my other half and we were tryin to work out if it was just a made up rule, thank you for your comments

[Loosehead]

All the rules are not the rules, they are just general indicators. Just about every English Language "rule" has an exception. They are only stated as general guidelines.