411 REFERENCE · Wiktionary
I before E, except after C
Reference material by Wiktionary contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
English
I before E except after C
Alternative forms
en i before e, except after c
Etymology
Formed because of the rhyme between the names of the letters E and C, /iː/ and /siː/. The "rule" was invented in the 19th century.
Proverb
proverb
en orthography mnemonic In English words that contain the letters I and E together, the I tends to come before the E (ie), except in cases when the two are preceded by the letter C, in which case the E comes before the I (cei).