Why is science 'cie'? i before e except after c, right?

Question

I do admit sceince would look funny.

Answer 1

this rule is not a rule at all. there are many other exceptions:

efficient
species
deficiency
and so on and so on....

this "rule", like so many one learns in one's high school english class, proves to be post facto, unsatisfactory explanation for a system that is far too rich and diverse to be explaned so simply.
Don't buy it.

Answer 2

Glowy has pointed out that there are many words that "break" this rule. In fact, the rule is basically post hoc, and doesn't really reflect the way that words like science and receive are spelled.

Answer 3

It has 2 syllables.The first one is "sci" with the second syllable being "ence". The rule applies only when the i and e are pronounced in the same syllable.

Answer 4

English is a messed up language, the rules are not always rules. It is amazing that any of us learn to spell. I find it interesting that most of the words that "break" this rule are of Latin etymology.

Answer 5

It's two syllables so the rule doesn't apply. There's plenty of exceptions that don't have that excuse, though (weird and foreign come to mind).

Answer 6

If I remember my old teacher correctly, the second c cancels out the rule.

Answer 7

The english language is very different

Answer 8

because there are exceptions to every rule. It wouldn't be English if we didn't make it difficult.

Answer 9

we're not the ones who made the word, dear, that's why.

Answer 10

It proves that spelling is not science. :)