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i before e, except after c: Is This Old Spelling Rule Actually Accurate?

The "i before e, except after c" rule you've memorized for years is actually only half right. This article fills in the key condition (it only counts when it sounds like "ee"), clearly explaining why we use ei after c (ceiling, receive) and ie elsewhere (believe, field). We also list four must-memorize exceptions—weird, seize, foreign, and protein—along with spelling tips and right-vs-wrong examples, so you'll never have to rely on luck again.