It's the first Wednesday of the month, and that means it's time for another meeting of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Thank you Alex J. Cavanaugh for making all of this possible. The awesome co-hosts for today are Eva @ Lillicasplace, Crystal Collier, Sheena-kay Graham, Chemist Ken, LG Keltner (me!), and Heather Gardner!
Be sure to stop by the IWSG website where the winners of the anthology contest!
The question for this month is: What writing rule do you wish you'd never heard?
This one took some thought. I've heard many writing rules over the years, and while they vary in their usefulness, most of them haven't out right irritated me. When I really considered it, though, one of the most aggravating rules that came to mind was also one of the first rules I ever heard.
"I before E except after C."
Yes, it's more a spelling rule than a writing rule, but hey, knowing how to spell is a crucial part of the writing process.
This rule bugs me because there are so many exceptions to it. The Wikipedia page for the rule lists them out if you're curious. I've always been a pretty good speller, but thanks to this rule playing through the back of my mind, I've second guessed myself so many times it's not even funny.
Here's a short video on the subject that always makes me laugh. Enjoy!
Are there any writing rules you wish you'd never heard?
Happy New Year and thanks for co-hosting our gathering this month. Yes, this saying is one that sticks from school days!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year and I love your video. I am still smiling. I before e. Wow.
ReplyDeleteThank you for co-hosting this month.
All the best.
Pat Garcia
I hadn't realized there were so many exceptions to that rule. Maybe that explains why I make so many spelling mistakes :-)
ReplyDeleteCheers - Ellen
That video is fantastic, I've always hated that rule because it's just not true!
ReplyDeleteAck! I have quite a problem with that one too!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year and thanks for co-hosting.
Thanks for co-hosting and giving me my first big laugh of the day. Nothing points out ridiculousness like a good teaching video. LOL! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI've heard that the English language is one of the hardest languages to learn because of all the "exceptions" to the rule!!! Ugh. I'm always saying in my head, "I before e, except after c..." :)
ReplyDeleteAnd this is why Google rocks - a quick search and the correct spelling pops up. Ditto with all those rules - i.e., is it lain or laid? Thanks for the daily funny and for co-hosting.
ReplyDelete"I before E, except when you don't feel like!" is what I say. I'm always rooting for the underdogs and exceptions in the world. Writing fits in there pretty nicely. Thanks for co-hosting this month.
ReplyDeleteNo spelling rule is absolute either.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting this month!
The older I get, the worse I get at spelling. No rule is going to help at this point. That goodness for spell check.
ReplyDeleteAh, spelling rules. And the gut-feeling of what it should look like. Don't even mention the fight with the spellchecker... Happy writing.
ReplyDeleteGood point, and you're absolutely correct. It's a crazy spelling rule. There are more, but I digress. Thanks for co-hosting. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteThis is hilarious. I wonder who made up this 'rule' that only applies about half the time!
ReplyDeleteRules? What rules? :)
ReplyDeleteyes, that is a good one to forget or screw up, consistently! LOL
Happy 2017!
Happy New Year! Hope your holidays were awesome. I haven't thought about that rule in years. It used to annoy me to no end. I'm good with that rule NOW. Thanks for co-hosting with me this month. To a fabulous 2017! Eva, IWSG co-host #60
ReplyDeleteI before E except after C still messes with me.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI agree that spelling rule isn't much help.
You're right. That's definitely one rule that has way too many exceptions, but to maintain inner peace, we just have to accept that the English language simply ain't a pIEce of cake. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting the IWSG blog hop this month, LG - LOVED the video!!!
ReplyDeleteI think for me writing rules are like driving rules. Most are kind of solidified into my thinking where I follow them without too much thought and if I break them I often don't notice unless I get busted. Thank goodness their aren't any grammar police handing out tickets that cause me to have to go to writing court and pay hefty fines.
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
Tossing It Out
That's a really frustrating rule. There are a bunch of annoying and inconsistent spelling rules. My husband is ESL, and trying to give him rules entails me saying, "...except there are times when..." a lot.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year fellow co-host! That spelling rule makes me laugh because I loved spelling as a kid. I just wanted to learn how to spell the word so I didn't second guess myself that much once I learned it. Rules are important but so are our own thoughts in picking which work best and when.
ReplyDeleteI like knowing the rules. Doesn't mean I always follow them though.... :)
ReplyDeleteHappy 2017!
Agreed! English is a wonky language. We break our 'steadfast rules' repeatedly. I'm about to get my masters in writing, and I can't imagine having to learn English as a second language. Rules were meant to be broken! Thanks for co-hosting, and Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteOh that is a good one! That rule bugs me too. I used to be such a confident speller, that is before I became an author and the insecurities took hold:)
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year and thank you for co-hosting.
I've been a good speller so it doesn't take much to trip me up. There are a few 'ie' 'ei' words that get me every time. Like wierd, I mean weird.
ReplyDeleteEnglish is not my native language so I was spared all those funny rules. I usually can tell from looking at the words I wrote whether something is "off". Finding the right spelling is sometimes tricky (especially without spell check). There are always exceptions to the rules, right? Hence the quote "The exception of the rule is..." :-)
ReplyDeleteHappy 2017 and thanks for co-hosting!
ReplyDeleteI've a pretty good speller, pretty much the go to speller in my family. And now that you mention it, that i before e rule has made me second guess my spelling sometimes. Because I know I've spelled a word right but then that rule will pop up in my head. Quite annoying.
Thanks for visiting my site today and for co-hosting IWSG for January. I before E has helped me with spelling, but I still have to exaggerate the pronunciation of a relationship "nigh ease" before spelling niece!
ReplyDeleteLOL! All else fails, rip on the spelling rules, eh? I think you took the easy way out, but okay. If you insist.
ReplyDeleteHey, happy new year!
Maybe we should just toss that rule since it's not always true and you can't change how a word is spelled. Or can we.... >.>
ReplyDeleteThat cartoon made both me and my daughter laugh. I'll never be able to use that rule again without worrying. Thanks for co-hosting this month's IWSG.
ReplyDeleteOhmygosh, that video is hysterical. Thanks for the laugh. It's so true. English is a difficult language. Thanks for hosting the IWSG question for January. I've joined your blog. All the best in 2017!
ReplyDeleteOh, you cheater! Love your rule. And the video is just hilarious.
ReplyDeletelol Thanks for co-hosting.
ReplyDeleteThat video was funny. I've curated it for my elementary age students.
ReplyDeleteFunny! Thanks for sharing that little film. There's no doubt about it--English is weird.
ReplyDeleteEIEIO...
ReplyDeleteThanks for cohosting this month. Spelling rules can sure mess you up. English is such a weird language. LOL Best wishes for a great 2017.
ReplyDeleteYou've gotta love rules that have a load of exceptions, shouldn't those be more like guidelines. I mean seriously.
ReplyDeleteHa! Ha ha ha ha ha....!
ReplyDeleteFeeling a bit glazed this morning & that cheered me up :)
Happy New Year. Rules? There are rules? lol, J/K I'm going to take a aspirin the rules gave me a headache.
ReplyDeleteJuneta @ Writer's Gambit
Thanks for co-hosting, L.G. I hope that you had lots of fun and read many interesting post. I always told my third graders that there were always exceptions to the rules, particularly in spelling! LOL Usually followed by "That's why we have dictionaries!" Can you hear those third grade groans? I still groan myself, and I've learned I have to double-check spell check. There is no easy path out of the spelling maze. Happy writing in 2017!
ReplyDeleteMy last name is a prime exception to the I before E rule. It's Weidenbenner. Not a "c" in sight, and yet the "e" is front and center! I hope you have a happy new year. Keep up the good work on writing! www.dianeweidenbenner.com
ReplyDeleteThanks for the laugh. I've always wondered if rules like that carry over, in someway, to other languages or if it's just the English language that is so contradictory.
ReplyDeleteHappy Belated New Year!
ReplyDeleteI don't usually get hung up on I before E, but I'm always second guessing myself with then and than. Argh. So, I understand where you're coming from.