Excell or Excel: What is the Correct Spelling?

Have you ever typed “Excell” only to second-guess yourself and wonder, “Wait, is that right?” You’re not alone. Many writers confuse Excell and Excel because of the extra ‘l’ in words like excelled and excelling. So, which spelling is correct, and why does the confusion happen in the first place? Let’s break it down in a way that sticks.

Keyword + Intro Explanation

The short answer: Excel is the correct spelling in standard English usage, and Excell is a common misspelling. But don’t stop reading there’s a fascinating reason behind this spelling confusion, and knowing it will make you a stronger writer.

Simple Definition + Usage Overview

The verb excel means “to be exceptionally good at something” or “to surpass others in achievement.” It comes from the Latin word excellere and Old French exceller, both meaning “to rise up” or “surpass.”

Examples of correct usage:

• She wants to excel in class, so she studies every night.
• David always tries to excel at sports and academics.

Now, what about Excell? Simply put, Excell is not a word in English. If you see it, it’s a typo.

Clear Rules & Patterns

So why do we write excelled and excelling with a double ‘l’ if the base word only has one? Here’s the consonant doubling rule:

When a one-syllable word or a word with stress on the final syllable ends in a single consonant after a vowel, you double the consonant before adding a suffix that begins with a vowel (-ed, -ing).

Since excel is stressed on the second syllable (ex-CEL), the ‘l’ doubles when adding -ed or -ing:

• excel + ed → excelled
• excel + ing → excelling

But the base form never changes. It remains excel, not excell.

Bulleted Rules with Do’s and Don’ts

✔ Do write:

• excel (base verb)
• excelled (past tense)
• excelling (present participle)

✘ Don’t write:

• excell (incorrect)
• excelled with one ‘l’ (wrong)

Multiple Example Sentences

Here are some everyday scenarios showing the correct usage:

• Maria hopes to excel in her science project this semester.
• The company excelled in customer service last year.
• He is excelling in his new role at the tech firm.

Scenario Examples (Emails & Conversations)

Example 1: Professional Email Using “Excel” Correctly

Subject: Congratulations on Your Performance!

Hi Daniel,

I wanted to let you know that you’ve truly excelled in this quarter’s sales performance. Your ability to connect with clients and deliver results has set a new benchmark for the team.

Keep up the excellent work!

Best regards,
Jessica Thompson

Example 2: Wrong Usage (Excell)

Subject: Great Job

Hi Mark,

You really excell at organizing events. Everyone enjoyed the conference yesterday!

Thanks,
Sophia

(Notice the mistake? It should be “excel,” not “excell.”)

Example 3: Personal Email (Correct Usage)

Subject: Proud of You!

Hey Sam,

I heard you’re excelling in your coding clas that’s amazing! Keep going, and you’ll land that dream job soon.

Cheers,
Alex

Common Mistakes & Fixes

Mistake: She wants to excell in her career.
Fix: She wants to excel in her career.

Mistake: He exceled at math last year.
Fix: He excelled at math last year.

Mistake: They are excellling in sports.
Fix: They are excelling in sports.

Why People Get Confused

The confusion comes from English spelling patterns and the suffix addition rules. Many assume if you double ‘l’ in excelled and excelling, the base word must also have two Ls. That’s not the case. The doubling happens only when adding suffixes to maintain pronunciation and stress.

Does “Excell” Mean Anything?

Nope. Excell isn’t a recognized English word. The only time you’ll see it is in:

• Typos
• Brand names or surnames (e.g., Excell Cleaning Services)

What About Microsoft Excel?

Good question! The spreadsheet program Microsoft Excel is named after the verb excel, symbolizing data organization and excellence in analysis. But it always uses one ‘l’ so next time you’re creating a data analysis report, remember the spelling rule.

Tenses of the Verb Excel

Here’s a quick verb conjugation table:

Tense	Example
Base form	I want to excel at this.
Past tense	She excelled in science.
Present participle	They are excelling at chess.
Past participle	We have excelled in many areas.

Excel Synonyms for Variety

To avoid repetition, you can also use:

• Outshine
• Surpass
• Outperform
• Be outstanding

Example:

• He outshines others in every competition.

Quick Reference Table

Correct Form	Incorrect Form
excel	excell
excelled	exceled
excelling	excellling

Final Thoughts

If you remember one thing from this guide, make it this: Excel is the correct spelling. Excell is never right in English. The confusion comes from the consonant doubling rule when adding suffixes, but the root word remains the same.

So whether you’re writing an email, updating a résumé, or using Microsoft Excel, make sure you spell it correctly you’ll excel in your writing too.