The British government has issued new guidelines that put an end to the traditional “i” before “e” spelling rule. They say there are just too many exceptions.
Here’s how the Associated Press reported the story (please take special note of the correction AP added at the end of the story):
The “Support For Spelling” document, which is being sent to thousands of primary schools, says the rule “is not worth teaching” because it doesn’t account for words like ‘sufficient,’ ‘veil’ and ‘their.’
Jack Bovill of the Spelling Society, which advocates simplified spelling, said Saturday he agreed with the decision.
But supporters say the ditty has value because it is one of the few language rules that most people remember.
(This version CORRECTS spelling of Bovill, sted Bovell, in graf 4.)
That’s right, the first version of the AP story spelled the spokesman’s name “Bovell,” but the corrected version spelled it “Bovill,” in effect validating the entire story by putting “e” before “i.”
You can’t make this stuff up.
Source: Associated Press
