How to spell according
A Year 5 and 6 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
according
A-C-C-O-R-D-I-N-G
The part to watch: a double c, then cord. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
According starts with a double c. You only hear one k sound, so the second c is easy to forget.
According is one of the words on the Year 5 and 6 list with a double letter at the start. Many long words begin ac, ag, ap, at, com, cor, im, oc, op, suf or sug with a doubled consonant. Most began as a prefix joined to a root, and the letter doubled where the two met.
Common mistakes with according
- Wrong: acordingRight: according
- Wrong: accodingRight: according
A way to remember it
According has "cord" inside it: ac + cord + ing.
According in syllables
ac · cord · ing
According has 3 syllables. Say each one as you write it.
In a sentence
According to the map, the castle is just over the hill.
According on the statutory list
According is on the Year 5 and 6 statutory word list in the national curriculum for England. Children are taught these words in Years 5 and 6, when they are 9 to 11.
Test yourself
A short spelling test that starts with according, then nine more words from the Year 5 and 6 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with a double letter at the start
These words from the Year 5 and 6 list share the same pattern as according.
More words
Questions parents ask
How do you spell accordingly?
Accordingly is according + ly. It keeps the double c.
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