"i" before "e" except after "c"

Pash   Fri Sep 29, 2006 5:08 pm GMT
Is this rule, or just a guideline?

"i" before "e" except after "c", except when said "ay" as in "neighbor" and "weigh".
Guest   Fri Sep 29, 2006 6:49 pm GMT
...or the 'ee' in "weird"
Benjamin   Fri Sep 29, 2006 7:14 pm GMT
I before E, except after C, providing it rhymes with B.

Of course, it doesn't work in all cases. One exception would be 'species'.
Pash   Fri Sep 29, 2006 7:40 pm GMT
<I before E, except after C, providing it rhymes with B.

Of course, it doesn't work in all cases. One exception would be 'species'. >

So, what's the rule?
Benjamin   Fri Sep 29, 2006 8:20 pm GMT
There aren't really any 'rules' in English spelling, lol.

But 'I before E, except after C, providing it rhymes with B' works in most cases.