What is the -ei and -ie spelling rule?

The -ei and -ie spelling rule is a helpful guideline for remembering how to spell words with these letter combinations. It's not a hard and fast rule, but it works for many common words. Here's how it goes:

"I before E, except after C, or when sounding like A as in neighbor and weigh."

Let's break it down:

* "I before E": This is the general rule. In words like "believe," "chief," and "piece," the letters "i" and "e" appear in that order.

* "Except after C": There are some exceptions to the "i before e" rule. When the letters "c" and "e" appear together, the order is usually "e" before "i." Examples include "receive," "conceit," and "ceiling."

* "Or when sounding like A as in neighbor and weigh": In words like "neighbor" and "weigh," the "ei" combination makes the "a" sound. These are exceptions to the general "i before e" rule.

Here are some examples to illustrate the rule:

* "I before E": believe, field, piece, niece, friend

* "Except after C": receive, ceiling, deceive, perceive

* "Sounding like A": neighbor, weigh, sleigh, height

Keep in mind:

* This rule has many exceptions. You can always use a dictionary to verify spellings.

* There are other spelling rules and patterns in English that you can learn.

* The best way to learn spelling rules is through practice and exposure to the language.

Good luck with your spelling!