✏️
I before E, except after C
The famous one - and the one to trust least.
Grades 3-8
The rule
When the letters make the “ee” sound, write ie — unless they come straight after a c, where you write ei.
How it works
| believe | ee sound, no c before it → ie |
| chief | ee sound → ie |
| field | ee sound → ie |
| receive | ee sound, straight after c → ei |
| ceiling | ee sound, straight after c → ei |
| deceive | ee sound, straight after c → ei |
Watch out for
- The rule only applies to the ee sound. In eight, weigh, vein and their the sound is different, so the rule says nothing about them.
- Real exceptions even to the ee sound: weird, seize, protein, caffeine, either and neither.
- Ancient and efficient have ie straight after a c, because there the c is saying “sh” rather than “s”.
- Science looks like a breach but is not one: its c says “s” and the i and e are in separate syllables (sci-ence), so there is no “ee” sound for the rule to apply to.
Be honest about this one
This rule has so many exceptions that many teachers no longer teach it on its own. Treat it as a hint, not a law — and learn the common exceptions as whole words.