Spelling Rules - Words with ie or ei

On this page are rules for spelling words with ie or ei along with examples of words that have the letters ie or ei. The exceptions, or some of them, are noted.

Words with ie  and ei:

When the sound is e write ie except after c

Words:

relieve, priest, relief, chieftain, grievous, field, belief, yield, thief, shriek, reprieve, besiege, piece, pierce, cashier, reprieve, brief, sieve, siege, believe

Words after c:

conceit, ceiling, deceive, perceive, receipt, deceit, conceive, receive

When the sound is other than e, usually write ei Words:

eight, rein, veil, heir, weight, their, sleigh, vein, neigh, skein, neighbor, reign, freight, heifer, weir, weigh, foreign, forfeit

Exceptions

There are always exceptions.

Words:

friend, mischief, seize, sheik, weird, either, neither, financier, leisure, seize, species, ancient, fierce, lieutenant

Hello Visitor!

I am currently working on this website to add to its ginormousness. Thank you for visiting, and please subscribe yearly to access my many printable files! Donna Young
May 13, 2021

Welcome to DonnaYoung.org!
Donna Young

Generate a 13-Month Calendar

Animals of the world booklet

You are at DonnaYoung.org, online since 1998. Thank you for visiting my website. Donna Young

Back to Top