Double letter spelling words.
Doubled letters make ordinary words surprisingly hard to proofread. The trick is not to stare at the word longer—it is to notice the specific pattern each word carries.
Common double-letter traps
accommodate
Pattern: double c and double m.
committee
Pattern: double m, double t, and double e.
embarrass
Pattern: double r and double s.
occurred
Pattern: double c and double r.
occurrence
Pattern: double c and double r, then -ence.
successful
Pattern: double c and double s.
tomorrow
Pattern: one m and double r.
beginning
Pattern: one n at the start, double n in the middle.
How to remember them
Break the word into a small phrase rather than trying to memorize one long string of letters. For example, think “accommodate has room for two c's and two m's,” or “occurred is occur plus -red, so the r doubles.” A spoken cue is often easier to recall than a rule you only half remember.
Double letters appear often in professional writing. Pair this guide with commonly misspelled words at work, then browse the full Top 100 list for more patterns.
Practice with today's quiz