except after c? what crap

[lobelia321]

My son has learned a stupid rule in school. It made him spell 'neighbours' as 'nieghbours'. Have you guessed the rule? Yup, that's the one.

I am ieght years old. How wierd is that. Hieght and wieght don't matter on a sliegh.

Comments

[slashbert.livejournal.com]

*stops by from friendsfriends*

I actually learned an "extended" version of that rule in elementary school - it went:

i before e
except after c
or when sounding like "a"
as in "neighbor" or "weigh."

It doesn't apply to everything (see "weird"), but it's a bit more inclusive. :)

[giglet.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's the version I learned as well.

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I think I'll just stick to 'learn it all off by heart; it's English, sweetie' as a rule. *g*

[wolfine.livejournal.com]

Oh, I remember that one! Drill it into their wee heads, then unlearn them the bits what don't fit.