About ie and ei

[Marthe48]

Even at 70, I still have trouble remembering which words are spelled ie and ei. I noticed lately that many of the ie words, are more of individual nouns, such as chief, friend, and niece are more likely to be ie. Words that describe a group, group member, object or action such as neighbor, freight and reign, are more likely to be spelled ei.

This observation is helping me with one little snag in the writing flow

[malthaussen]

1. "i before e except after c," or...

... you know, except when it feels like it. But the general rule works maybe 70% of the time.

-- Mal

[CrispyQ]

2. I before E except after C, or sounding like A as in neighbor or weigh.

But I'm sure there are exceptions to that verse, as well.

[Dale in Laurel MD]

3. That seems weird!

nt!

[CrispyQ]

5. LOL.

I see what you did there!

[Timewas]

4. actually

I before e except after c or when sounded like A as in neighbor and weigh... dis-proven by weird science

[Marthe48]

6. The I before E rule doesn't help me much

I can remember my 2nd grade teacher using a big flip chart explaining that rule, and then trying to use it.

[MyOwnPeace]

8. I bought my son Keith - the English teacher -

a mug to leave on his desk at school. It says:

i before e

except when your foreign
neighbor Keith receives
eight counterfeit beige sleighs
from feisty caffeinated weight
lifters.

WEIRD!