The present invention relates to water-soluble ionic cellulose ethers from the group of the hydroxyalkylcelluloses which are substituted by on average from 0.001 to 1.0 alkyl group per anhydroglucose unit and which carry from 0.01 to 0.1 sulfoalkyl group per anhydroglucose unit, to processes for preparing them and to the use of water-soluble ionic cellulose ethers from the group of the hydroxyalkylcelluloses which are substituted by on average from 0.001 to 1.0 alkyl group per anhydroglucose unit and which carry from 0.01 to 0.4 sulfoalkyl group per anhydroglucose unit as protective colloids in polymerizations.