How to spell accident
A Year 3 and 4 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
accident
A-C-C-I-D-E-N-T
The part to watch: a double c, and it ends -ent. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
The first c says k and the second says s, so you hear both of them: ak-si-dent. The ending is -ent, not -ant.
Accident is one of the words on the Year 3 and 4 list with a double letter. A consonant is doubled somewhere in the word, and that is the part that goes wrong. Say the word slowly and count the doubles before you write it.
Common mistakes with accident
- Wrong: acidentRight: accident
- Wrong: accidantRight: accident
A way to remember it
Say it slowly as "ak-si-dent". The k sound is the first c and the s sound is the second.
Accident in syllables
ac · ci · dent
Accident has 3 syllables. Say each one as you write it.
In a sentence
It was an accident when the glass fell off the table.
Accident on the statutory list
Accident is on the Year 3 and 4 statutory word list in the national curriculum for England, printed there as accident(ally). Children are taught these words in Years 3 and 4, when they are 7 to 9.
From the same entry
Test yourself
A short spelling test that starts with accident, then nine more words from the Year 3 and 4 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with a double letter
These words from the Year 3 and 4 list share the same pattern as accident.
More words
Questions parents ask
How do you spell accidental?
Accidental is accident + al: a-c-c-i-d-e-n-t-a-l. It keeps the double c and the -ent of accident.
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