Excell or Excel: What is the Correct Spelling?

Have you ever wondered about the spelling of Excell or Excel? These two words are often confused, but only one is correct. It’s important to understand the difference and how to use the correct spelling.

In this article, we’ll dive into the difference between Excell and Excel and explore when to use each. Whether you’re talking about the Microsoft Excel software or using the word in a sentence, knowing the correct spelling is essential for clear communication.

What Do Excell or Excel Mean?

Before we jump into the details, let’s break down the meanings of Excell or Excel

Excell

Excell, with a double “l”, is actually a misspelling. This word doesn’t exist in proper English. If you use “Excell”, people may not understand what you mean. The correct spelling is Excel.

Excel

The word Excel has two meanings. First, it means to be very good at something. For example, if you get high grades in school, people say you excel in your studies. Second, Excel is the name of a popular software program created by Microsoft.

This program helps you organize and analyze data, such as numbers and charts. So, Excel is both a verb that means doing well, and it’s the name of the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet program.

READ MORE: Pre vs Post: Which Prefix to Use?

Origins of the Word “Excel”

Now, where does the word Excel come from? The origins of Excel are in the Latin word “excellere”. In Latin, “excellere” means “to surpass” or “to be eminent”. This word traveled from Latin to Old French, where it became “exceller”, meaning to be outstanding. Eventually, the word entered English, keeping the meaning of excellence. This is why Excel means to do better than others or to perform very well.

What’s the Difference Between Excell or Excel?

Now let’s look at the difference between Excell and Excel in more detail. This can be tricky because of the similar spelling, but it’s simple once you understand.

Aspect	Excel (with one “l”)	Excell (with double “l”)
Spelling	Correct spelling	Incorrect spelling
Verb	Means to be exceptionally good at something	Not recognized in proper English usage
Software Program	Name of the spreadsheet program by Microsoft	Does not exist
Usage	Used as a verb and the name of the software program	Should not be used
Recognition	Recognized in English	Not recognized
Potential Confusion	Rarely causes confusion	May cause confusion

In short, “Excel” is the correct spelling of Excel. It works as both a verb and the name of the software. “Excell” is a misspelling and doesn’t belong in standard English writing.

Tenses of the Verb “Excel” with Examples

Understanding the tenses of the verb Excel helps you use it correctly in sentences. Here are some examples of different verb tenses for Excel:

Tense	Example Sentence
Present Simple	She excels in art.
Present Continuous	He is excelling in basketball.
Present Perfect	They have excelled in every competition.
Past Simple	She excelled in her exams last year.
Past Continuous	He was excelling in math before switching schools.
Past Perfect	They had excelled before the tournament started.
Future Simple	She will excel in her next performance.
Future Continuous	He will be excelling during the next game.
Future Perfect	She will have excelled by the time the year ends.
Future Perfect Continuous	They will have been excelling for months by graduation.

Why Did We Add an Extra “l” in “Excelled” and “Excelling”?

You might wonder, why does Excel have only one “l,” but in “Excelled” and “Excelling”, there’s a double “l”? This is because of the double L spelling rule in English. In English, when a word ends in a consonant with a single vowel before it, we double the consonant if we add a suffix that starts with a vowel, like “-ed” or “-ing”.

For example:

• Excel → Excelled
• Excel → Excelling

This rule applies when the stress is on the last syllable of the word, like Excel. It keeps the pronunciation clear and correct.

Examples in Context

Let’s look at some examples where you might use “Excel” in different ways. These examples will help you see how the word is used as both a verb and in its software form.

As a Verb

1. She excels in writing essays.
2. He excelled in his school’s science fair.
3. They are excelling at learning new languages.

As the Software Program

1. I used Microsoft Excel to organize my homework schedule.
2. He learned how to use Excel to make graphs for his project.
3. My dad uses Excel to keep track of his finances.

Synonyms of “Excell” (with Double “ll”)

Since Excell with double “l” is not a real word, there are no synonyms for it. It’s a misspelling, so it doesn’t have a valid meaning.

Synonyms of “Excel” (with One “l”)

The word Excel has many synonyms, which can help if you want to vary your vocabulary. Here are some common Excel synonyms:

• Surpass
• Outperform
• Shine
• Thrive
• Outshine
• Transcend

These words also mean doing something very well or better than others.

Why Excel Is Spelled with One “L”

Many people wonder, Why is Excel spelled with one L? The simple answer is that this is the standard spelling for this word in English. It follows typical English spelling rules. Using a single “l” makes the word easier to read and understand.

Common Mistakes with “Excell or Excel”

It’s easy to mix up Excel and Excell. The correct English spelling is always Excel with one “l”. You’ll often see people mistakenly write Excell, but this is incorrect. To avoid confusion, always check your spelling, especially when writing important documents.

Verb “Excel” Examples in Different Scenarios

Let’s look at some scenarios where you might use Excel in sentences. These examples can help you understand how to use the word correctly.

School Achievement

• Sarah excels in math, scoring top marks in every test.
• The teacher told Jake he would excel in science if he studied harder.

Sports Performance

• John excelled in football last season, becoming the top scorer.
• Lisa is excelling at swimming and has won several competitions.

Using Microsoft Excel

• Maria used Microsoft Excel to organize her class projects.
• Mr. Smith taught his students how to create spreadsheets in Excel.

ALSO READ: What is the Past Tense of See and Its Past Participle?

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding the difference between Excell or Excel important for good communication. The spelling of Excel with one “l” is always correct. Whether you’re talking about being great at something or using the Microsoft Excel software, remember the correct spelling of Excel. Excell is simply a misspelling and should not be used.

So next time you’re aiming to Excel in something or working on a spreadsheet, remember: it’s always Excel, not Excell!