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Bernard Lamb berates Ken Smith's partial understanding of the i before e spelling rule and extends it to the formulation i before e except after c when the sound rhymes with bee.

However, there are exceptions to this rule, the most common of which are given by recalling the burglar in the pharmacy who heinously seized the codeine and caffeine.

For those who might be driven to drink by the quirks of English spelling, be assured that German wines follow the rule precisely - despite my local off-licence's insistence on mispronouncing Riesling.

David Bowers, Head of learning development, University Campus Suffolk.