Learn on PengiElements of Language, 5th CourseChapter 15: Spelling: Improving Your Spelling

Lesson 1: Words with ie and ei

In this Grade 8 spelling lesson from Elements of Language, 5th Course, students learn the ie and ei spelling rules, including when to write ie for the long e sound, ei after c, and ei for non-long-e sounds such as the long a. The lesson also covers common exception words like either, neither, friend, and mischief that do not follow standard rules. Practice exercises guide students in applying these guidelines to correctly spell words such as ceiling, relief, conceited, and seized.

Section 1

Spelling with 'ie'

Definition

Write ie when the sound is long e, except after c.

Explanation

Remember the classic rhyme: I before E, except after C. This simple rule is your guide for words with a long 'e' sound, like in “bee.” If you hear that long 'e' and there is no 'c' right before the vowel pair, the correct spelling is almost always 'ie'.

Examples

  • My uncle is the fire chief in his town.
  • The winner felt a great sense of relief after the long competition.
  • Please hand the cashier your (receipt, reciept) to complete the return. [The letters make a long e sound and follow c. The correct spelling is receipt.]

Section 2

Spelling with 'ei'

Definition

Write ei when the sound is not long e.

Explanation

When a word doesn't have a long 'e' sound, it’s often spelled with 'ei'. This is very common for words with a long 'a' sound, like in “hay.” Think of the second part of the spelling rhyme: "...or when sounded as 'ay,' as in neighbor and weigh."

Examples

  • The king's reign lasted for forty years.
  • What is the total weight of the packages?
  • Our new (neighbors, nieghbors) moved in last weekend. [The letters are pronounced 'ay'. The correct spelling is neighbors.]

Section 3

Exceptions to 'ie' and 'ei' Rules

Definition

Some common words are exceptions to the standard ie and ei spelling rules.

Explanation

Some words are rebels that don't follow the rules! Words like 'seize' use 'ei' even with a long 'e' sound, while words like 'friend' use 'ie' without a long 'e' sound. For these tricky words, memorization is key, and using a dictionary is always a smart move when you're unsure.

Examples

  • Neither of the answers seemed correct on the quiz. [Most Americans pronounce this word with a long e sound, but it is an exception to the 'ie' rule.]
  • My best friend is moving to another state next year. [This word does not have a long e sound but is an exception spelled with ie.]
  • Did you seize the opportunity to apply for the summer job? [This word has a long e sound but is an exception spelled with ei.]

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Chapter 15: Spelling: Improving Your Spelling

  1. Lesson 1Current

    Lesson 1: Words with ie and ei

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  2. Lesson 2

    Lesson 2: Prefixes and Suffixes

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  3. Lesson 3

    Lesson 3: Plurals of Nouns

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  4. Lesson 4

    Lesson 4: Writing Numbers

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  5. Lesson 5

    Lesson 5: Words Often Confused A

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  6. Lesson 6

    Lesson 6: Words Often Confused B and C

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Lesson overview

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Section 1

Spelling with 'ie'

Definition

Write ie when the sound is long e, except after c.

Explanation

Remember the classic rhyme: I before E, except after C. This simple rule is your guide for words with a long 'e' sound, like in “bee.” If you hear that long 'e' and there is no 'c' right before the vowel pair, the correct spelling is almost always 'ie'.

Examples

  • My uncle is the fire chief in his town.
  • The winner felt a great sense of relief after the long competition.
  • Please hand the cashier your (receipt, reciept) to complete the return. [The letters make a long e sound and follow c. The correct spelling is receipt.]

Section 2

Spelling with 'ei'

Definition

Write ei when the sound is not long e.

Explanation

When a word doesn't have a long 'e' sound, it’s often spelled with 'ei'. This is very common for words with a long 'a' sound, like in “hay.” Think of the second part of the spelling rhyme: "...or when sounded as 'ay,' as in neighbor and weigh."

Examples

  • The king's reign lasted for forty years.
  • What is the total weight of the packages?
  • Our new (neighbors, nieghbors) moved in last weekend. [The letters are pronounced 'ay'. The correct spelling is neighbors.]

Section 3

Exceptions to 'ie' and 'ei' Rules

Definition

Some common words are exceptions to the standard ie and ei spelling rules.

Explanation

Some words are rebels that don't follow the rules! Words like 'seize' use 'ei' even with a long 'e' sound, while words like 'friend' use 'ie' without a long 'e' sound. For these tricky words, memorization is key, and using a dictionary is always a smart move when you're unsure.

Examples

  • Neither of the answers seemed correct on the quiz. [Most Americans pronounce this word with a long e sound, but it is an exception to the 'ie' rule.]
  • My best friend is moving to another state next year. [This word does not have a long e sound but is an exception spelled with ie.]
  • Did you seize the opportunity to apply for the summer job? [This word has a long e sound but is an exception spelled with ei.]

Book overview

Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.

Continue this chapter

Chapter 15: Spelling: Improving Your Spelling

  1. Lesson 1Current

    Lesson 1: Words with ie and ei

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  2. Lesson 2

    Lesson 2: Prefixes and Suffixes

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  3. Lesson 3

    Lesson 3: Plurals of Nouns

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  4. Lesson 4

    Lesson 4: Writing Numbers

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  5. Lesson 5

    Lesson 5: Words Often Confused A

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  6. Lesson 6

    Lesson 6: Words Often Confused B and C

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