How to spell excellent
A Year 5 and 6 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
excellent
E-X-C-E-L-L-E-N-T
The part to watch: x, then c, then a double l. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
Excellent has a c after the x, even though you hear only one s sound. It has a double l and ends -ent.
Excellent is one of the words on the Year 5 and 6 list with a soft c. The letter c says s when it comes before e, i or y, as in centre, circle and bicycle. Before a, o, u or another consonant it says k.
Common mistakes with excellent
- Wrong: excelentRight: excellent
- Wrong: exellentRight: excellent
A way to remember it
Excellent work gets an X and a C: ex + cel + lent.
Excellent in syllables
ex · cel · lent
Excellent has 3 syllables. Say each one as you write it.
In a sentence
Your story was excellent.
Excellent on the statutory list
Excellent 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 excellent, then nine more words from the Year 5 and 6 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with a soft c
These words from the Year 5 and 6 list share the same pattern as excellent.
More words
Questions parents ask
How do you spell excel and excellence?
Excel has one l. The l doubles in excelled, excelling, excellent and excellence.
Spelling is one part of the picture
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