What words break the before E except after rule?

The phrase "i before e except after c" is a helpful rule of thumb, but it's not a hard and fast rule. There are many exceptions! Here are a few:

Words that don't follow the rule:

* Words with "ei" after "c":

* ceiling

* receive

* conceit

* perceive

* deceit

* Words with "ei" not after "c":

* weird

* neighbor

* foreign

* height

* weight

* their

* seize

* either

* neither

* Words with "ie" after "c":

* science

* ancient

* efficient

Why the rule isn't perfect:

The rule is based on the history of English spelling and pronunciation. It's helpful because it reflects common patterns, but it doesn't account for all the exceptions that have developed over time.

The best way to learn these exceptions is to practice spelling and reading!