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Spelling: ie or ei?
The thief needed patience when opening the safe.

Spelling: ie or ei?

Crack the "ie" or "ei" puzzle in 11 Plus English. Learn the rule, spot exceptions, and choose the correct spelling by using sound, meaning, and word patterns.

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(quiz starts below)

Fascinating Fact:

Watch famous exceptions to the ee rule: weird, seize, either, neither, leisure. Learn these as red list words.

In 11 Plus English, the spelling choice between ie and ei often follows the guideline i before e except after c. You still need to learn key exceptions for accuracy.

Key Terms

  • Digraph: Two letters that represent one sound, such as ie in thief.
  • After c: Words like receive and ceiling usually take ei after the letter c.
  • Exception: A word that does not follow a common pattern, for example weird or seize.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What does “i before e except after c” mean?

It is a guide for spellings with ie and ei. Many words use ie (thief), but after c we often use ei (receive, ceiling).

What are the main exceptions to i before e?

Common exceptions include weird, seize, either, neither, and leisure. Learn these by heart because they break the pattern.

How can I decide between ie and ei in tricky words?

Check for a preceding c, say the word aloud, and think about meaning. When unsure, look it up and add it to a personal list.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .
Which one of the following words has been spelt incorrectly? You need only concentrate on whether it should be 'ie' or 'ei'.
acheive
beige
friend
ceiling
It should be 'achieve'
2 .
Which one of the following words has been spelt incorrectly? You need only concentrate on whether it should be 'ie' or 'ei'.
neighbour
iether
height
weight
It should be 'either'
3 .
Which one of the following words has been spelt incorrectly? You need only concentrate on whether it should be 'ie' or 'ei'.
receive
grief
niether
protein
It should be 'neither'
4 .
Which one of the following words has been spelt incorrectly? You need only concentrate on whether it should be 'ie' or 'ei'.
believe
sieze
vein
weird
It should be 'seize'
5 .
Which one of the following words has been spelt incorrectly? You need only concentrate on whether it should be 'ie' or 'ei'.
thief
patience
counterfeit
thier
It should be 'their'
6 .
Which one of the following words has been spelt incorrectly? You need only concentrate on whether it should be 'ie' or 'ei'.
foreign
leisure
preist
hygiene
It should be 'priest'
7 .
Which one of the following words has been spelt incorrectly? You need only concentrate on whether it should be 'ie' or 'ei'.
eight
mischeif
rein
species
It should be 'mischief'
8 .
Which one of the following words has been spelt incorrectly? You need only concentrate on whether it should be 'ie' or 'ei'.
chieftain
shriek
cashier
shiek
It should be 'sheik'
9 .
Which one of the following words has been spelt incorrectly? You need only concentrate on whether it should be 'ie' or 'ei'.
peice
brief
sieve
veil
It should be 'piece'
10 .
Which one of the following words has been spelt incorrectly? You need only concentrate on whether it should be 'ie' or 'ei'.
ancient
feirce
yield
sleigh
It should be 'fierce'
Author:  Frank Evans (Specialist 11 Plus Teacher and Tutor)
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