Which spelling is correct, accomodation or accommodation? Accommodation is the correct spelling for both American English and British English. Read on to learn more about accommodation and how to use this word correctly.
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What Does Accommodation Mean?
Accommodation is the noun form of the verb accommodate, which means “to make an adjustment.” The etymology of this word comes from the Latin word accommodare– “to fit one thing to another.”
There are three main definitions for the word:
- It can be the act of accommodating someone to meet basic needs.
- It can be an adjustment made for someone else’s convenience.
- It can be aids or exceptions provided for someone who otherwise would struggle to perform a task.
Example sentences:
- The budget motel was a suitable accommodation for the night.
- The city has a good transit system as an accommodation for people who don’t drive.
- We can reschedule our meeting to make an accommodation for your conflict.
- I requested an accommodation because of my broken leg.
- If you have a learning disability, you may qualify for an accommodation on standardized tests.
When and How to Use Accommodation?
The first two examples above are good displays of the first definition of accommodation. Temporary lodging, food, and travel options are accommodations people may receive or pay for to meet key needs.
The third example uses the second definition: an adjustment made for someone’s convenience. Let’s say you have a meeting at 10 A.M., and traffic is backed up for miles. The earliest you can reach your destination is noon. Moving the meeting to a later time or another day would be an accommodation based on your circumstances.
The last two examples exemplify the third meaning: assistance provided to someone who needs it. In schools, students with leg casts or who are using crutches may receive an elevator pass. That’s an accommodation owing to the difficulty of using the stairs while in that situation.
Students who are dyslexic often are allowed to have test questions read aloud to them. Or they may be able to use text-to-speech for essays. These are accommodations that help them with what otherwise can be a daunting task.
What Is the Right Spelling?
Accommodation is the only correct spelling. Accomodation, acommodation, and accommodation are not variations; they are misspellings.
Is It Accommodations or Accommodation?
The word “accommodations” is simply the plural version of the word. Here are some examples using the word:
- What type of lodging accommodations are you interested in for your trip?
- Would you prefer overnight accommodations with an ocean view?
- We should cancel our accommodations if you’re worried about comfort and extra time.
- The new owners want to compromise; they are willing to give new accommodations for the whole group and an automatic adjustment for future passengers.
- Negotiators offered accommodations for reconciliation.
- The accommodations are at different distances.
- Despite all the accommodations we made for your schedule, you still didn’t show up.
- While I was recovering from surgery, my boss provided several accommodations to make office life easier for me.
Trick to Remembering the Correct Spelling
Remembering whether to use accomodation or accommodation is easier if you have some tips or tricks to help. Here are some:
- When traveling, you can sometimes book a double, which is a room with two beds. Remembering this may help you remember to double the c and m; there are two sets of double letters.
- Accommodations can help provide accountability. You can associate the words and their double c’s.
- Orally, accommodation has the word comma within it. Associate the words and their double m’s.
Final Thoughts
An accommodation is something provided or available to meet a certain need. Examples include lodging, schedule adjustments, and academic assistance. Remember, when it comes to using accomodation or accommodation, there’s only one correct spelling: accommodation.
