TAKING EXCEPTION

GAMES Magazine

September, 2014

Craig Kasper

 

The "I before E, except after C" spelling rule in its entirety is "I before E, except after C, and when sounded as A, as in 'neighbor' and 'weigh'." The answer to each clue below is an exception to the rule.

  

1. Off the wall

2. Fast and able 

3. Full of spunk

4. Mexican plantation 

5. Darwin's Origin of _____

6. Montana National Park

7. Common physical descriptor 

8. Too much keeps you up at night

9. For peace of mind, keep it clean

10. Pertaining to another country other than one's own 

 

Answers:

 

1. WEIRD

2. EFFICIENT 

3. FEISTY

4. HACIENDA 

5. SPECIES

6. GLACIER

7. HEIGHT

8. CAFFEINE

9. CONSCIENCE

10. FOREIGN 

 

Some linguists say that there are so many exceptions to this rule that it is useless.