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You probably learned “I before E except after C” in elementary school…and you probably know that there are tons of exceptions to this rule—so many that it’s hard to keep track! This is where we enter the scene. In this article, we’ll explain the “and before e except after c” rule and review its many exceptions, plus explore where the saying comes from and why English words are so hard to spell correctly in the first place.
The saying “I before E except after C” is a mnemonic rhyme to help English speakers remember how to spell words containing “ie” or “ei”. This rule applies to common words such as “believe” or “ceiling”, but there are many exceptions to the rule that it is not so widely applicable.
Categories: How to
Source: HIS Education