Spelling Receive: How to Write the Word in a Correct Sequence

The English language can be tricky when it comes to spelling. Some misspelled words are so similar to the correct ones that they trick the eyes. For instance, receive spelling is frequently confused and misspelled by many people.

Receive or Recieve — Which Is the Correct Spelling?

“Receive” is the correct spelling of the word, not “recieve.” The word “recieve” is a common mistake that is not a real word in English. People often confuse the position of “i,” and “e” in this word as most of the words follow the pattern “ie” in English. But this pattern is not followed by “receive,” making it a word misspelled by many.

Though there are different misspelled variations of the word, the most common is “recieve” with an “-ie” instead of an “-ei-.”

If you are receiving an item or someone is granting you a favor, use the spelling “receive.”

What Does “Receive” Mean?

The definition of receive is to acquire or possess something, and the use of this word can vary based on the context. The word is a verb that usually means “to get” or “be the recipient of” something.

• I didn’t receive my payment.

The word also means “to suffer or experience something” or “be subject to a specific treatment.”

• The new movie received tons of appreciation from the audience.

In rare cases, “receive” could mean “to give someone a formal welcome.”

• The school committee received the chief guest at the main gate.

Receive Spelling: I before E, except after C

There are mnemonic devices to make learning and recalling the spelling of specific words much easier. In school, teachers emphasized the rule “I before E, except after C” for a long time. And it works for the receive spelling where “-ei-” follows the letter “c.”

However, It’s important not to rely solely on this rule, as there are exceptions that can mislead you. This ruling is primarily applicable when the sound within a word is “ee.”

Some exceptions are neighbor, foreign, height, leisure, etc.

Because English is not a phonetic language, words aren’t always spelled in how they are pronounced. However, regular practice and usage can help keep the words that don’t follow the norm in mind. We suggest that you memorize the exceptions and keep them in mind when writing.

To Wrap Up

Determining the correct spelling of a word is never easy to do. It becomes even more confusing when a misspelled word is so prevalent that people often normalize it.

One such spelling that raises confusion every time is “receive,” where the position of the “e” and “i” is swapped by many. This article discusses the rule to recall the proper spelling while enlightening you with the exceptions to keep in mind.