Elementary ๐ŸŽฏ Pronunciation & Mistakes ยท #20 of 111

Spelling Rule: I Before E

i before e except after c.

Examples

  • believe, receive

Key rules

  • In most words with the sound /iห/, write i before e: believe, receive
  • After c, write e before i: receive, ceiling
  • There are exceptions, such as weird and foreign

Common mistakes

  • recieve โ†’ receive
  • beleive โ†’ believe

Use cases

  • Spelling practice
  • Writing emails and essays
  • Proofreading
๐Ÿ’ก Tip: Learn the common exceptions separately, such as weird, height and their.
Practise this topic in the appPractise Elementary quiz
โ† Mistake: Since vs ForSpelling Rule: Doubling Consonants โ†’

Related Elementary topics

See all Elementary pronunciation & mistakes lessons โ†’

Silent Letters

Some letters are written but not pronounced.

Pronouncing -ed Endings

/t/, /d/ or /id/ depending on the last sound.

Pronouncing -s Endings

/s/, /z/, /iz/.

Word Stress Basics

Stress one syllable in each word.

Sentence Stress

Stress content words.

Mistake: Make vs Do

make creates; do performs tasks.