Ie and ei

The sound /iː/ (as in believe) is often written ie, but not usually ei. However, we write ei after c for this sound. English-speaking children learn a rhyme: ‘i before e, except after c’.

• believe
• chief
• field
• grief
• piece
• shield
• ceiling
• deceive
• receive
• receipt

Exceptions: seize, Neil, Keith, either, neither

note

For other pronunciations of either and neither, (see here).