'I' BEFORE 'E' and 'Q' FOLLOWED BY 'U'
'i' before 'e' except after 'c'
Most people know the spelling rule about i before e except after c, as in the following words: -ie--ei-
The rule is at least 25% wrong. It only applies when the sound represented is ‘ee’, though. It doesn’t apply to words like science or efficient, in which the –ie- combination does follow the letter c but isn’t pronounced ‘ee’.
Neither does the rule apply to any word without the ee sound, even when there is no c involved. For example: -ei- (not pronounced ee)
There are a few exceptions to the general i before e rule, even when the sound is ‘ee’. Examples include seize, weird, and caffeine. There’s nothing for it but to learn how to spell these words, checking in a dictionary until you are sure about them.
Most people know the spelling rule about i before e except after c, as in the following words: -ie--ei-
- achieve
- belief
- believe
- ceiling
- chief
- conceit
- deceit
- deceive
- fierce
- piece
- pierce
- perceive
- receipt
- receive
- thief
- yield
The rule is at least 25% wrong. It only applies when the sound represented is ‘ee’, though. It doesn’t apply to words like science or efficient, in which the –ie- combination does follow the letter c but isn’t pronounced ‘ee’.
Neither does the rule apply to any word without the ee sound, even when there is no c involved. For example: -ei- (not pronounced ee)
There are a few exceptions to the general i before e rule, even when the sound is ‘ee’. Examples include seize, weird, and caffeine. There’s nothing for it but to learn how to spell these words, checking in a dictionary until you are sure about them.
Q is always followed by a 'u'.
- Frequent
- Quiet
- Queen
- Quick
- Equipment
- Quit
