'I' before 'E' and 'Q' followed by 'U'
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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’.
The also does not apply when the sound is like an 'a' - as in 'neighbour' or 'weigh'.
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-
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’.
The also does not apply when the sound is like an 'a' - as in 'neighbour' or 'weigh'.
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