One of these is a word. The other is a misspelling that appears so often it almost looks right.
Accomodation — incorrect
Accommodation — correct
If you’ve been writing accomodation, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most frequently misspelled words in English, and the reason comes down to a double-letter pattern that trips up even careful writers.
The Correct Spelling
Accommodation — two c’s, two m’s.
That’s the only standard spelling in American English, British English, Canadian English, and Australian English. There are no regional variants here. No style guide accepts accomodation as an alternative form. It’s simply a spelling error.
Why This Word Is So Easy to Misspell
The problem is the middle section: -cc-mm-. Most words don’t ask you to double two different consonants in a row. The brain tends to simplify this to either one c or one m — or both.
Common errors include:
- accomodation — one m (most frequent mistake)
- acommodation — one c
- acomodation — one of each
None of these are correct. The full double pattern — -ccommodation — is the only right form.
The word comes from the Latin accommodare, meaning to make fit or adapt. The double-c was part of the original Latin prefix (ad- + com-), and the double-m comes from the root modus (measure, manner). Both doubles have been present in the English spelling since the word entered the language.
How to Remember Accommodation or Accomodation
A simple memory aid that actually works:
Accommodation has room for two c’s and two m’s — just like a hotel has rooms for guests.
Since accommodation often refers to a place to stay, this connection is easy to hold onto.
Another approach: say the word slowly in syllables:
ac · com · mo · da · tion
When you hear ac-com, that’s two consonant sounds — which maps to the double-c. When you hear com-mo, the m sounds again — which maps to the double-m.
What Accommodation Means
Accommodation is a noun. It has two main areas of meaning.
1. A place to stay or live
This is the most common use in everyday writing.
- We booked accommodation near the airport.
- The university provides student accommodation on campus.
- Finding affordable accommodation in the city is difficult.
2. An adjustment, compromise, or arrangement
This use is common in formal, legal, and professional contexts.
- The two sides reached an accommodation that satisfied both parties.
- The employer made reasonable accommodations for the employee’s disability.
- Her request for an accommodation was approved by the school.
In the second sense, accommodations (plural) often appears in legal and workplace language, particularly in phrases like reasonable accommodations under disability law.
The Verb and Adjective Forms
The same double-c, double-m pattern applies across related words. Writers who learn the noun spelling sometimes revert to a single letter in the verb or adjective form.
| Form | Correct spelling |
| Verb | accommodate |
| Adjective | accommodating |
| Noun | accommodation / accommodations |
- Can the hotel accommodate twenty guests?
- She was remarkably accommodating about the change in plans.
- We need to book accommodation before the weekend.
All three share the same -cc- and -mm- in the middle.
Accommodation or Accomodation in British vs. American English
One thing to note: British English tends to use accommodation as an uncountable noun (no plural in common use), while American English more often uses accommodations in the plural — especially when referring to lodging.
- British: We’re looking for accommodation in Edinburgh.
- American: Did you sort out your accommodations for the conference?
Both spellings — with the full double-c, double-m — are identical. Only the plural convention differs.
Quick Check Before You Publish
If you’re proofreading and you want a fast test, look for the pattern:
a-c-c-o-m-m-o-d-a-t-i-o-n
Count the c’s: two.
Count the m’s: two.
If either comes up as one, the word is misspelled.
Spell-checkers catch this error reliably, but it still slips through in handwriting, informal notes, and documents where autocorrect has been turned off.
The bottom line: accommodation, always with two c’s and two m’s. There’s no version of this word with a single c or a single m that any dictionary recognizes as correct.
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It’s Afini, I am the author at Vocab press, a website focused on animal facts with clear visuals and simple guides. I research and share accurate, easy-to-understand information for readers of all ages. My goal is to make learning about animals fun, trustworthy, and simple. I follow fact-based writing and keep content updated, helpful, and people-first. Thank you for reading.
