This guideline helps you remember how to spell some of the more common spelling challenges in the English language.
I before E
believe, friend, piece
I believe she is correct.
Yes, he is a good friend of the family.
Care for another piece?
Except after C
ceiling, deceit, receive
A bug fell from the ceiling!
I received a lovely Valentine's gift this year.
Rarely do I ask for a receipt these days.
Unless it sounds like A
eight, neighbour, weigh
Eight! Number eight!
My neighbour got me food when I was ill.
Sir, weigh your bag before boarding, please.
Naturally, there are exceptions, such as:
Ancient, foreign, glacier, height, leisure, protein, science, weird and many more.
However, you can rule out many of the uncertainties by following this general pattern.
Exercise 1. Circle the correct spelling
I want to belive/believe! I really do! But the evidence is lacking …
Actually, my dog is my best friend/freind. She always keeps what she has promised.
Wow, this church has a remarkable cieling/ceiling! Truly a piece of art.
Eight/eieght o'clock. Be home before that or there will be no dinner for you, young man.
Have you ever seen our nieghbour/neighbour? It’s awfully creepy..
Execise 2. Spot the mistakes and correct the sentence
I doesn’t know what to belive, did he speak the truth or not?
What are the right decision, a deisel or electric powered car?
This years, I am going to overcome my fear of hiegths.
Exercise 3. Translate from Swedish to English
These are longer sentences where your target is to include one dependent and at least one independent clause. For example:
Medan jag lyssnade på musik fick jag känslan av att min kropp flöt genom taket.
While listening to music, it felt like my body drifted through the ceiling.
Translate:
De tog emot en order trots vädret. Anfall!
Medan du latade dig åt jag den sista kakbiten.
Eftersom vetenskapen har kommit så långt är det bara en tidsfråga innan vi har människor på mars.
I before E
achieve
brief
chief
die
field
fierce
friend
lie
lingerie
niece
pie
piece
pierce
prairie
priest
siege
Except after C
ceiling
conceit
conceive
deceive
receipt
receive
perceive
Unless it sounds like A
heir
neighbour
reign
rein
skein
surveillance
their
veil
vein
weigh