ABSTRACT
[Abstract: The nature of rules is deliberated by contrasting the strict rules of a sport like football with the less strict rules of language, where they are generalizations about what speakers do, and what they find acceptable, in using grammar, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, etc. The “i before e except after c” rule, the only spelling rule that many people can quote, is debunked. Two other, much more reliable, but equally largely unknown rules of English spelling are explained, with examples.]
