How to spell appreciate
A Year 5 and 6 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
appreciate
A-P-P-R-E-C-I-A-T-E
The part to watch: a double p, and ci says sh. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
Appreciate starts with a double p. The "sh" sound in the middle is spelt ci.
Appreciate 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 appreciate
- Wrong: apreciateRight: appreciate
- Wrong: appriciateRight: appreciate
A way to remember it
Say it in four beats: ap, pre, ci, ate. The ending is "ate", as in "I ate".
Appreciate in syllables
ap · pre · ci · ate
Appreciate has 4 syllables. Say each one as you write it.
In a sentence
I appreciate your help with the washing up.
Appreciate on the statutory list
Appreciate 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 appreciate, 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 appreciate.
More words
Questions parents ask
How do you spell appreciation?
Drop the e of appreciate before -ion: appreciation. The double p and the ci stay.
Spelling is one part of the picture
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