Language Conventions
NAPLAN Spelling Rule 9: ie except after c
The phonograms ie and ei both make three main sounds. The most common sound made by these double vowels is the long e sound. For words in which the ie and ei are making the long e sound, ie is used except after the letter c, when ei is used instead. This rule is often stated as: i before e except after c. As with many English rules though, there are exceptions.
Examples: chief, field, ceiling, deceit.
Exceptions when ei does NOT come after c: weir, weird, protein, their, seize.
Exception when ie comes after c: species.
The phonograms ie and ei both make three main sounds. The most common sound made by these double vowels is the long e sound. For words in which the ie and ei are making the long e sound, ie is used except after the letter c, when ei is used instead. This rule is often stated as: i before e except after c. As with many English rules though, there are exceptions.
Examples: chief, field, ceiling, deceit.
Exceptions when ei does NOT come after c: weir, weird, protein, their, seize.
Exception when ie comes after c: species.