Spelling rule
ie or ei?
The old rhyme 'i before e, except after c' works well when the letters make an 'ee' sound. For other sounds, and a handful of famous rule-breakers, it pays to learn the words.
How it works
- 1
When it says 'ee', write ie
- believe
- achieve
- field
- piece
- chief
- thief
- 2
Straight after c, when it says 'ee', write ei
- receive
- ceiling
- deceive
- receipt
- 3
When it says 'ay', write ei
- eight
- weight
- neighbour
- reign
- vein
- 4
ie after c can say 'sh'
Here the c and i work together to make a 'sh' sound, so the rhyme doesn't apply.
- ancient
- sufficient
- conscience
- efficient
Watch out
- Rule-breakers to learn by heart: seize, weird and protein (ei saying 'ee' with no c).
- foreign, leisure and height use ei with other sounds; friend, soldier and mischievous use ie with other sounds.
Memory trick
Never believe a lie: there's a lie in believe.
Words to practise
Years 3 and 4 statutory words
- believe
- eight
- eighth
- weight
- height
- reign
Years 5 and 6 statutory words
- achieve
- mischievous
- soldier
- ancient
- sufficient
- conscience
- foreign
- leisure
- neighbour
More everyday words
- field
- piece
- receive
- ceiling
- seize
- weird
- friend
Practise a few minutes a day
The daily spelling workout brings back the words your child finds tricky, and shows you which rules they need to revisit.