How to spell occur
A Year 5 and 6 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
occur
O-C-C-U-R
The part to watch: a double c, one r. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
Occur has a double c and one r. The r doubles only when you add an ending: occurred, occurring.
Occur 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 occur
- Wrong: ocurRight: occur
- Wrong: occurrRight: occur
A way to remember it
Occur has two c letters now; occurred gets two r letters as well.
Occur in syllables
oc · cur
Occur has 2 syllables. Say each one as you write it.
In a sentence
Big earthquakes rarely occur in Britain.
Occur on the statutory list
Occur 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 occur, 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 occur.
More words
Questions parents ask
How do you spell occurred and occurrence?
The r of occur doubles before a vowel ending, because the beat falls on "cur": occurred, occurring, occurrence.
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