We've seen over and over the complete sentences made up of the many words that use e before i, but now we have an exception to the exception. The rule we all learned really gives no guidance at all. (Thanks, WTM!)
According to a BBC quiz show, there are a total of 43 words that conform to the 'i before e except after c' rule ... and over 925 words that do not.
Another thing to note is that the rule is missing the final part. The rule, as I learned it, is 'i before e except after c when the sound is like a double e'. So words like science, neighbor, or height – which don't have the long ee' sound – don't come under the rule either.
And some of the other words that are exceptions are either proper names like Keith or Sheila, chemical names and compounds like caffeine or codeine, or plurals of words ending in 'y' like pacify or tendency, where the 'y' is changed to a 'i' and then an 'es' is added.
I also learnt a different version - "When the sound is "E", it is I before E except after C". So "science" is irrelevant as it is not pronounced with an "e" sound.
Interesting point, Vireya. In the US there's about a zillion regional dialects that pronounce things in a way that could mess that rule up, mine too. xoxoxoBruce
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ReplyDeleteAccording to a BBC quiz show, there are a total of 43 words that conform to the 'i before e except after c' rule ... and over 925 words that do not.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing to note is that the rule is missing the final part. The rule, as I learned it, is 'i before e except after c when the sound is like a double e'. So words like science, neighbor, or height – which don't have the long ee' sound – don't come under the rule either.
And some of the other words that are exceptions are either proper names like Keith or Sheila, chemical names and compounds like caffeine or codeine, or plurals of words ending in 'y' like pacify or tendency, where the 'y' is changed to a 'i' and then an 'es' is added.
-"BB"-
I before E except after C, or sounded like A as in neighbor and weigh.
ReplyDeletexoxoxoBruce
I also learnt a different version - "When the sound is "E", it is I before E except after C". So "science" is irrelevant as it is not pronounced with an "e" sound.
ReplyDeleteInteresting point, Vireya.
ReplyDeleteIn the US there's about a zillion regional dialects that pronounce things in a way that could mess that rule up, mine too.
xoxoxoBruce