Spelling Rules | Forget the Rhyme, Teach the IE/EI Rule

Most people know the old spelling rule rhyme, ‘I before E except after C,’ but in Orton-Gillingham, we go a step further to make this rule crystal clear for our students.

What Is the IE/EI Rule?

In OG, the full rule is: Use I before E except after C, when spelling long E.

So what does that mean? It means placement matters. When we say ‘after C,’ we’re looking at the spelling. The letter C comes first, and then comes ei.

Another way to phrase it is simple: After C, use EI. Otherwise, use IE.

Tip! Sometimes I teach: Use IE to spell long E, but if you see a CEI, use CEI to spell long e.

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The Other Sounds of EI

Now here’s something important: the rule itself only applies to the long e sound, but EI can make other sounds in English, and students need to know that too.

• Long a: weigh, neighbor, eight, reign, veil
• Short e: heifer
• Long i: height, feisty
• Short i: forfeit, counterfeit

These words don’t follow the long e rule—so we teach those separately, in groups, by sound. These are sight words.

When to Teach

You’ll typically see this rule:

• After vowel teams
• Late Grade 2 / Mid Grade 3
• Expect mastery by Grade 4

Kids may read these patterns earlier, but spelling them confidently comes with repetition and time. Think slow build, lots of practice. And, Orton Gillingham is always flexible. The approach is meant to meet students where they are in their learning.

How to Teach the Rule

When you’re teaching, keep it simple with a question strategy:

1. Do I hear long /e/?
   • If not, the rule doesn’t apply.
2. Is there a C right before the vowel pair?
   • If yes, write ei (like in ceiling).
   • If no, write ie (like in chief).
3. Does this word appear on the NEWS list? NEWS is our exception pneumonic for this rule and stands for Neither, Either, Weird, Seize. These words use EI to make the long E sound, but they do not follow the CEI rule.
   • If so, it’s an exception. Students should memorize.

Multisensory Practice Ideas

OG success = practice + movement + language. Hear it, see it, write it.

Try (and be sure in writing exercises, students read the words out loud):

• Word sorts (IE vs CEI vs NEWS)
• Proofreading (recieve or receive)
• Fill-in-the-blank practice (c__ling, th__f)
• Explain-your-choice dictation
• Sound-to-symbol work (tap, decide, write)

“I heard long /e/. No C before it. That’s why I used IE.”

You’ll hear their confidence grow.

Word Lists & Anchor Words

• IE (no c before long e): grief, field, belief, shield.
• EI (after c): ceiling, receive, deceit, perceive.
• Exceptions – NEWS words: Neither, Either, Weird, Seize.

I like to color-code these when teaching. Circle IE in green to mean ‘go.’ Circle C and underline EI in red to show the trigger. And post those NEWS words on a Breaking News! chart—so they really stand out.

A Final Word

• Long /e/ is spelled with IE, unless there’s a C before it—then it’s EI.
• Watch out for the NEWS exceptions.
• Teach the other EI pronunciations in groups. Students will commit those words to memory and realize this rule is about the C with the EI making the long e sound.

So now your students have more than a rhyme, they have a real rule to follow!

Want a video on the IE/EI Rule? Go here