i before e except after c
Most people know the spelling rule about i before e except after c, as in the following words:
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-ie-
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-ei-
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achieve
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ceiling
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belief
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conceit
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believe
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deceit
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chief
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deceive
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piece
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perceive
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thief
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receipt
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yield
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receive
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The rule only applies when the sound represented is ‘ee’, though. It doesn’t apply to words like science or efficient, in which the –ie- combination does follow the letter c but isn’t pronounced ‘ee’.
There are a few exceptions to the general i before e rule, even when the sound is ‘ee’. Examples include seize, weird, and caffeine. There’s nothing for it but to learn how to spell these words, checking in a dictionary until you are sure about them.