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#225881 - 11/01/16 09:48 PM Spelling ie vs. ei
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1 Storysmith![]()
stranger![]()
stranger
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1 As a child I learned the spelling rhyme:
“i" before “e”
except after “c”
or when sounding like “a”
as in neighbor and weigh.
This has helped me spell many words according to the recommended standard, including
(“i” before “e”)
wield, piedmont, lien, diesel
lenient, piece, mien, lieutenant
(except after “c”)
ceiling, conceit, receive
(or when sounding like “a”)
feint, neigh, sleigh
But there are words that don’t follow this rule, that don’t have a long “a” sound, and aren’t after a “c", such as
height (sounding like a long “i”)
seize (sounding like a long “e”)
sleight (sounding like a long “i”)
Is there some historical etymological reason behind these anomalies?
For that matter, is there some historical reason behind the “rule” in the rhyme?
(And does anyone know of exceptions that have an "ie" after "c"?)
#225884 - 11/01/16 11:22 PM Re: Spelling ie vs. ei [Re: Storysmith]
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,120 LukeJavan8![]()
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,120
Land of the Flat Water WELCOME
----please, draw me a sheep----
#225893 - 11/03/16 01:28 AM Re: Spelling ie vs. ei [Re: Storysmith]
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,879 wofahulicodoc![]()
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,879
Worcester, MA
...And does anyone know of exceptions that have an "ie" after "c"?
prophecies
science
species
and a raft of others.
Go to onelook.com and enter " *cie* " -- you don't even have to Enter it; just look in the dropdown!
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