This has to be another one of the all-time favourite errors people make.
I learnt from a very young age to say the rhyme, "I before E, except after C!", and you know what? I still use it today when I'm writing! That's right - it has stuck with me through quite a few decades, and has been a great tool for me over the years.
My sister's daughter is my niece.
Psst! Remember how to spell niece by saying, "Nice niece!" ... which means write the *i* in *nice* before the *e*.
I before e except after c
Or sounding like A
As in NEIGHBOUR and WEIGH
But LEISURE and SEIZE
Do as they please.
i before e | |
deficient patient conscience achieve believe brief field yield shield proficient efficient niece pierce fierce | eight either feint height neighbour perceive weigh reign receipt seize their weird foreign leisure |