Receipt or Reciept: What’s the Correct Spelling?

Receipt
  • Receipt is the correct spelling.
  • It follows the ‘i’ before ‘e’ except after ‘c’ rule.
Reciept
  • Reciept is the incorrect spelling of receipt.

Have you ever found yourself second-guessing the spelling of a word for that little slip of paper handed to you after a purchase? You’re not alone!

So, is it a receipt or a reciept? ‘Receipt’ is the correct spelling, referring to a document acknowledging receiving goods or services. As a noun, it serves as proof of a transaction, and as a verb, it means the action of receiving something. Reciept is merely an incorrect spelling of receive.

Key Takeaways

  • ‘Receipt’ is the proper spelling, while ‘reciept’ is incorrect.
  • Receipt is used both as a noun for proof of transaction document and as a verb for the action of receiving.
  • The spelling is guided by the rule ‘i before e, except after c’.

Receipt or Reciept: What’s the Correct Spelling?

The correct spelling is ‘receipt’, not ‘reciept’.

The general spelling rule of “i before e, except after c” applies here, highlighting that the correct order of letters after ‘c’ is ‘ei’ and not ‘ie’.

Reciept is a common misspelling of receive. The reason it’s incorrect is that the “i” comes after the “c”, breaking the “i before e” rule for when the consonance ‘c’ is involved.

When in doubt, think of the word “receive”, which follows the same rule – this can help cue the correct “receipt” spelling.

Also Read: Receive or Recieve: What’s the correct spelling?

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What’s The I Before E Rule?

The ‘i before e except after c’ rule is a well-known spelling guideline that says ‘i’ typically comes before ‘e’ in words unless following a ‘c’.

Following this guideline, the correct spelling is ‘receipt’, with the ‘e’ before the ‘i’, because it follows the consonant ‘c’.

This classic rule ‘i before e, except after c’ is your key to remembering how to spell words like ‘receive’ and ‘receipt’.

Exceptions to the Rule

There are exceptions to the ‘i before e’ rule, which can confuse you. Words like ‘weird’, ‘seize’, and ‘neighbour’ don’t fit the typical pattern.

Fortunately, ‘receipt’ isn’t one of these exceptions, and you should always spell it with the ‘ei’ after the letter ‘c’. Remembering this will help avoid the common misspelling ‘reciept’ in your writing.

Receipt: Definition

‘Receipt’ is a noun that refers to the document served as definitive proof of payment. It’s a written acknowledgement that money, goods, or information has been received.

Receipt can also function as a verb. When you ‘receipt’ something, you acknowledge its reception.

Using Receipt in Sentences: Examples

When you make a purchase, the shop assistant typically hands you a receipt; this slip is your written acknowledgement of the transaction.

A receipt often serves as proof of purchase for warranties or returns.

Here are a few sentences showing how you might commonly use the word “receipt” as a noun or verb:

  • Upon exiting the grocery store, you check the receipt to ensure all items were charged correctly.
  • After paying your bill in a restaurant, it’s customary to receive a receipt detailing what you’ve ordered.
  • At the end of the financial year, the accountant tallied all cash receipts to file the tax return accurately.
  • The film’s box office receipts exceeded expectations, indicating its commercial success.
  • For tax purposes, keeping a record of all tax receipts to claim deductions is advisable.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

person holding a receipt in hand

When dealing with proof of purchase, the correct spelling to use is receipt. The misspelling reciept is a common mistake owing to the confusion caused by the “i before e except after c” rule.

Other common misspellings of the word receipt are recipt or receit. Always double-check your spelling against trusted references or use spell-check tools to prevent mistakes.

What is the proper pronunciation of the word ‘receipt’?

Receipt is pronounced as rɪˈsiːt (ri-seat)

When you say ‘receipt’, ensure the “p” is silent. Start with the sound ri, much like you’re beginning to say the word review. The second part of the word should sound exactly like seat, with a clear and prolonged ee sound.

It is common for ‘receipt’ to be mispronounced because of its spelling. Despite the presence of “p,” it is not pronounced.

Your tongue should not touch the roof of your mouth for the “p” at any point while saying the word.

For an audio example and additional guidance, refer to the pronunciation provided by the Cambridge Dictionary.

FAQs

Why does the word ‘receipt’ include a silent ‘p’ in its spelling?

The word ‘receipt’ includes a silent ‘p’ due to its Latin origin, deriving from the word ‘recipere’, which means to receive.

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Aman
Aman

Aman, at the helm of Weboword as its founder and Word Architect, believes deeply in the ability of words to connect, educate, and inspire. Each word is a key, and with Weboword, he aims to unlock the doors of imagination, understanding, and connection.

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