How to spell occasionally
A Year 3 and 4 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
occasionally
O-C-C-A-S-I-O-N-A-L-L-Y
The part to watch: occasional + ly, with a double c, one s and a double l. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
Occasionally is occasion + al + ly. It keeps the double c and single s of occasion, and the l of al meets the l of ly.
Occasionally is one of the words on the Year 3 and 4 list with the -ly ending. Most of these words are made by adding -ly to a root word. Spell the root first, then add -ly. A root ending in -le swaps the -le for -ly, as probable becomes probably.
The root, occasional, ends in l, and -ly starts with l, so the word has a double l.
Common mistakes with occasionally
- Wrong: occasionalyRight: occasionally
- Wrong: ocasionallyRight: occasionally
- Wrong: occassionallyRight: occasionally
A way to remember it
Build it in steps: occasion, occasional, occasionally.
Occasionally in syllables
oc · ca · sion · al · ly
Occasionally has 5 syllables. Say each one as you write it.
In a sentence
We occasionally have pizza on Fridays.
Occasionally on the statutory list
Occasionally is on the Year 3 and 4 statutory word list in the national curriculum for England, printed there as occasion(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 occasionally, then nine more words from the Year 3 and 4 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with the -ly ending
These words from the Year 3 and 4 list share the same pattern as occasionally.
More words
Questions parents ask
Is it occasionally or occassionally?
Occasionally. Occassionally doubles the s, but occasion has only one s: the double belongs to the c.
Spelling is one part of the picture
The free diagnostic checks maths, English and both kinds of reasoning, and shows what to practise next. No card is required.