ie or ei, and other rules that bend for 11 plus English

The rhyme works better with its last line: when the sound is ee. Field, niece: ee, so i before e. Ceiling, deceive: after c, so e before i. A few words bend it. Learn them: seize, protein, weird. Another rule that bends: in British English, practice with a c is the noun, and practise with an s is the verb. Rule first, then the words that bend it.

The top of a room: ee, after c, so e before i. Ceiling. Now: we blank every Tuesday. C or s? Swap in advice or advise, which sound different. We advise every Tuesday fits, so it is a verb. Practise, with an s.

The trap is using a rule where it does not hold. Seize has the ee sound and no c, so the rhyme gives you sieze. It is wrong. Seize is one to learn.

• 5.1Tricky words to learnLearn it in parts, and give it a trick
• 5.2HomophonesExpand it, then check the meaning
• 5.3Adding prefixes and suffixesLook at the root before you add
• 5.4Silent lettersLearn the pairs, and find a word that says it
• 5.5Hidden vowels and double lettersSay it in a spelling voice

Every 11 plus English topic