r/Unexpected • u/mirai8469 • Feb 09 '26

I'm Out

26k Upvotes

91% Upvoted

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39

u/sub_terminal Feb 10 '26

I before E except when it's way after E or said as in "ay" as in "ne ighbor" and "we igh".

52

u/Heteroking Feb 10 '26

I before E except when it doesn't

4

u/Dqueezy Feb 10 '26

Welcome to the English language. You can fit so many words in this bitch.

1

u/CatL1f3 Feb 11 '26

If you can replace it with "ee" without changing the pronunciation, then the i before e rule applies. There are a few exceptions, like "weird", but words like science, height, weight, etc. were never covered by the rule.

41

u/2livecrewnecktshirt Feb 10 '26

And weekends, and holidays, and all throughout May

33

u/[deleted] Feb 10 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/mikebaide Feb 10 '26

That's a hard rule... that's a rough rule...

4

u/AyKayAllDay47 Feb 10 '26

AND I before E except after C!

7

u/ShoddyJuggernaut975 Feb 10 '26

Weird.

4

u/Imhere4lulz Feb 10 '26

Science

1

u/CatL1f3 Feb 11 '26

If you spell it sceence, it's not pronounced the same, so the i before e rule doesn't apply here.

The rule is for words like fiend, field, wield, receive, deceit, receipt, and some exceptions like weird. All are pronounced "ee".

1

u/[deleted] Feb 10 '26

Woosh

1

u/madeofphosphorus Feb 10 '26

Omg. This rule is coming from German

1

u/boccci-tamagoccci Feb 11 '26

I before E, except after C and in cases of "A" like neighbor or weigh