Since there is a rule that states "i" before "e" except after "c", wouldn't "science" be spelled wrong?

Answer 1

brilliant.

Answer 2

Yeah, that "I before E except after C" has A LOT of screwups. The English language is so dumb. It has so many exceptions and some idiot always comes up with some complicated "smart" way to explain it. What can you do, though, right?

Answer 3

It isn't considered a rule anymore - way too many exceptions to that "rule". And its still spelled that way because its a two syllable word, not one. Its from the Latin word for knowledge: scientia.

Answer 4

"An augmented American version is:

i before e
except after c
or when sounding like a
as in neighbor and weigh

(Here a is [eɪ].) This includes many of the exceptions but still fails to correctly handle many others, such as protein or weird."

Answer 5

In English class 45 to 50 years ago it was taught except for notable exceptions.
Dennis

Answer 6

There are exceptions to every rule, especially in the English language :)

For that matter, think of all the words that end in "cies"
Species
Inaccuracies
Redundancies
Fallacies
The list goes on...

In fact, here's one :)

http://www.morewords.com/contains/cie/

Answer 7

The English language has many exceptions.

Answer 8

Have you ever heard of an exception before? Just learn to spell and then you won't have to rely on stupid rules with so many exceptions.

Answer 9

There is always an exception to every rule.

Answer 10

Welcome to the English language. Maybe the name Keith might make up for the violation of the rule in the word science.

Answer 11

That rule applies when the two vowels are pronounced as one sound.