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How to spell correspond

A Year 5 and 6 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.

The answer

correspond

C-O-R-R-E-S-P-O-N-D

The part to watch: a double r, then respond. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.

The tricky part

Correspond is cor + respond. The double r comes from the prefix meeting respond.

Correspond 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 correspond

  • Wrong: corespondRight: correspond
  • Wrong: correpondRight: correspond

A way to remember it

When you correspond with a pen pal, you respond to each other: cor + respond.

Correspond in syllables

cor · re · spond

Correspond has 3 syllables. Say each one as you write it.

In a sentence

I correspond with a pen pal who lives in France.

Correspond on the statutory list

Correspond 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.

See all the Year 5 and 6 words

Test yourself

A short spelling test that starts with correspond, 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

More words

Questions parents ask

How do you spell correspondence?

Correspondence is correspond + ence. It ends -ence, not -ance.

Spelling is one part of the picture

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