How to spell possession
A Year 3 and 4 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
possession
P-O-S-S-E-S-S-I-O-N
The part to watch: possess + ion, keeping two double s pairs. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
Possession is possess + ion. It keeps both double s pairs. The ending -ssion says "shun".
Possession is one of the words on the Year 3 and 4 list with a double letter. A consonant is doubled somewhere in the word, and that is the part that goes wrong. Say the word slowly and count the doubles before you write it.
Common mistakes with possession
- Wrong: posessionRight: possession
- Wrong: possesionRight: possession
A way to remember it
Write possess, then add ion. Nothing changes.
Possession in syllables
pos · ses · sion
Possession has 3 syllables. Say each one as you write it.
In a sentence
The old map was his most precious possession.
Possession on the statutory list
Possession is on the Year 3 and 4 statutory word list in the national curriculum for England, printed there as possess(ion). 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 possession, then nine more words from the Year 3 and 4 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with a double letter
These words from the Year 3 and 4 list share the same pattern as possession.
More words
Questions parents ask
Is it possession or posession?
Possession. Posession drops an s from the first pair; possession is possess + ion, and possess has two pairs of ss.
Spelling is one part of the picture
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