Spelling Problems?

[MagicFingers]

Most of us learned that old saying to tell which goes first, "i" or "e": "I before E except after C".
And we still have trouble getting it right. Here's why.
It should be: "I before E except after B,C,D,F,H,L,R,S,V, & W".
As in,
Beige, Being
Ceiling
Deity, Deify
Feign, Feisty
Heir, Height, Heist, Heinous
Leisure, Lei
Reign, Rein, Reive
Seize, Seine, Seismic
Veil, Vein
Weird, Weigh, Weight
Hmm, no wonder we have trouble with spelling!

 

[flawed_ethics]

I before E, except after C. They meant, of course, such words as conceive and conveinence.

What about Vienna? That messes up your list.

Then again, languages are about exceptions to the rules!

 

[Octavian]

'i 'before 'e' etc.

The veracity of the rule is not that important.

The crucial thing is that you can make a rhyme out of it.

Octavian

 

[Un-registered]

I before E except after C is true for (almost) all cases where the 'ie' is pronounced like the 'ee' in 'meet', and that is what was taught in schools when spelling was considered important. other wise (as with MagicFingers examples) either the pronunciation is 'i' or the 'ie' is not a diphthong at all, but two separate vowels.

The derivation is from German pronunciation where 'ei' is 'i' and 'ie'
is 'e' as in leider (sorry) and lieder (song).

(Of course the above is void in states where it is illegal.)

 

[wildsweetone]

i have a dictionary, and thesaurus, and numerous other appendages on my desk all of which i thank god on a regular basis for

trouble is, i still make mistakes because my brain tends to transmit to my fingers 'right' instead of 'write' and i often find myself backspacing in complete stupid frustration to correct the word before i continue on into oblivion.

i do find the more i look at oddly spelt words, the more odd they look. switching font sometimes helps me to sort the problem though while i'm editing.

 

[MathGirl]

The F-word

Personally, I always have trouble spelling "flaucinaucinihilipilification." It's one of those darned words you really need, but it's such a pain to keep looking it up.
MG

 

[TheEarl]

Personally, I always have trouble spelling "flaucinaucinihilipilification." It's one of those darned words you really need, but it's such a pain to keep looking it up.

Especially since it's spelt 'floccinaucinihilipilification."

The pedantic Earl

 

[MathGirl]

Especially since it's spelt 'floccinaucinihilipilification."

The pedantic Earl

Dear Pendulous Earl,
See, I told you I couldn't spell it.
MG

 

[Un-registered]

Dear Pendulous Earl,
See, I told you I couldn't spell it.
MG

MG v. TE latest score: 30-15

 

[Weird Harold]

You youngun's didn't learn the whole thing.

Most of us learned that old saying to tell which goes first, "i" or "e": "I before E except after C".

I before E, except after C. or when it says A, as in Neighbor and Weigh, <b>and any other time it doesn't follow the rule.</b>

In other words, if you have to guess, put the I first.

 

[MathGirl]

Score

MG v. TE latest score: 30-15

Gosh, I didn't realize anyone was keeping score. I didn't even know there was a game.
MG

 

[Un-registered]

Re: Score

Gosh, I didn't realize anyone was keeping score. I didn't even know there was a game.
MG

When you have matched your rackets to these balls,
You will on screen, by God's grace, play a set
Shall strike spectators' eyes into the hazard.

(To misquote shamelessly, but keeping the metre at least.)

 

[MagicFingers]

I beforre E, except, except, except...

Thank you all for these replies.
Un-registered for the German history of ie and ei (Why not register?)
The rules about the long EE and I sounds,
and MathGirl for that long word I'll try to work into my next story. Love your big butt, MG!

Personally, I write in WORD with the Speeling Cheaker turned on.
And I have a dictionary by my desk for quick lookups.
Of course, if it's just a forum post, why worry about it.
OBTW, is it HARDON or HARD ON? Hmm?

Good spelling everyone!

 

[MagicFingers]

I before E, except after C. They meant, of course, such words as conceive and conveinence.

What about Vienna? That messes up your list.

Then again, languages are about exceptions to the rules!

Of course, all proper names are not included. All bets are off where they are concerned, because they can be spelled any way one wants.

 

[Un-registered]

Re: I beforre E, except, except, except...

Un-registered ... (Why not register?)

If you look carefully I am registered. My registered name is Un-registered. It's a long story why that is, which would be of little or no interest to others as there is no hot sex involved.