Spelling rule
Words with double letters
Many 11+ spellings hide double letters you can't hear when you say them. Saying them slowly in a 'spelling voice' and spotting the pairs is the best way to remember them.
How it works
- 1
Many words starting ac-, ap-, ar-, at-, oc- or op- double the next letter
- accident
- appear
- arrive
- attached
- occasion
- opposite
- opportunity
- 2
Some have two pairs
- address
- possess
- committee
- embarrass
- accommodate
- success
- 3
Count the letters in the middle
- necessary (one c, two s)
- recommend (one c, two m)
- different
- difficult
- suggest
- interrupt
- excellent
Watch out
- Some look as if they should double but don't: harass (one r), disappear (one s), recommend (one c), necessary (one c).
- accommodate has two c's and two m's: there's room for both.
Memory trick
Necessary: one collar and two sleeves, so one c and two s's.
Words to practise
Years 3 and 4 statutory words
- accident
- accidentally
- address
- appear
- arrive
- different
- difficult
- disappear
- occasion
- occasionally
- opposite
- possess
- possession
- possible
- pressure
Years 5 and 6 statutory words
- attached
- accompany
- according
- accommodate
- aggressive
- appreciate
- apparent
- committee
- embarrass
- excellent
- immediate
- immediately
- interrupt
- necessary
- occupy
- occur
- opportunity
- programme
- recommend
- suggest
- harass
More everyday words
- success
- tomorrow
- parallel
- really
Practise a few minutes a day
The daily spelling workout brings back the words your child finds tricky, and shows you which rules they need to revisit.