The rule is not what you state. It is that when you have an /iː/ sound and must choose between the the two spelling “ie” and “ei”, *then and only then is it “ i before e except after c”. It has never ever ever been a general rule without the conditions I gave. The chief exception is weird.
orthography - Why is it true that "I before E, except after C ...
Because the usual formation of that rule is incomplete and there really isn't a simple fix. The correct rule should apparently be (from the first link), Use I before E Except when C is followed by L, P, T or V Or when sounded like "A" as in weight or "I" as in height Or when a prefix or suffix implies E-I. (Note that this means I before E after C the rest of the time!) Note that there are ...
Why are there exceptions for the i before e except after c rule?
28 "i before e except after c"* is a spelling "rule" that many people remember from school or just because it's often repeated. It refers to words like "p ie ce" to help people remember the "ie" order, and words like "con cei ve," where the "e" follows a "c" and is before the "i", like some similar words. But there are many exceptions to the ...
The old saying goes like this: i before e except after c or when sounded like a as in neighbor and weigh While this rule covers a large number of words, of course, there are a ton of exceptions (neither, height, weird, etc.).