One of the general English spelling rules is: I before E except after?

The general English spelling rule "I before E except after C" indicates that in most words, when the letters 'i' and 'e' appear together, the 'i' usually comes before the 'e.' This rule serves as a helpful guideline for spelling a variety of English words correctly. However, there are exceptions to this rule, particularly when it follows the letter 'c.'

In words like "receive" and "ceiling," the 'e' comes before the 'i' because of the preceding 'c.' This is why "C" is the correct choice; it is essential to remember this exception when applying the general spelling rule. The choices related to other letters are not associated with this specific spelling guideline regarding the usual order of 'i' and 'e.'