Accel vs Excel Quiz: Test Yourself

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Writers often stop to ask accel vs excel because the two look alike and sound similar. They are not interchangeable, though. One is a genuine English verb, and the other is a shortened form or a brand name. This guide explains the difference between accel and excel, shows when each one is correct, and gives you quick tricks to choose the right one.

What does “excel” mean?

Excel means to be exceptionally good at something or to do better than others. It is a verb, and it usually appears with “at” or “in.”

• She excels at mathematics.
• The team hopes to excel in the finals.
• He excelled in every subject at school.

The verb forms are excels, excelled and excelling. Notice the double L in the past tense and the -ing form.

What does “accel” mean?

Accel is a shortened form, not a standard verb. In music, “accel.” is the abbreviation of accelerando, an instruction to gradually speed up. In casual speech, “accel” can also be a clipping of acceleration.

• The composer wrote accel. above the final bars.
• The engineers compared the accel of two electric cars.

Outside those uses, it is safer to write the full word: accelerate, acceleration or accelerando.

Is “accel” a real word?

Only in limited senses. It appears as a music abbreviation and as informal shorthand for acceleration, but it is not a standard verb like “excel.” You cannot say “she accels at chess.”

If you are writing for a general audience, spell out the full word unless you are quoting a musical score. That way nobody confuses it with “excel,” which is the source of the most common mix-up in the accel vs excel debate.

What about Excel and Accel as brand names?

With capital letters, both words can be names. Excel is Microsoft’s well-known spreadsheet program, and Accel is a venture capital firm that invests in startups.

Capitalization is the clue. The verb “excel” is lowercase unless it starts a sentence, while the software and the company are always capitalized. Do not write “Accel file” when you mean a spreadsheet, and do not write “Excel invested in the startup” when you mean the firm.

Accel vs excel: which one should you use?

Use excel when you mean doing something exceptionally well. Use accel only for the music marking, informal acceleration, or the company name.

Compare these pairs:

• She will excel at her new job. (She will do exceptionally well.)
• The drummer should play accel. in bar 32. (Gradually speed up.)
• Send me the Excel sheet. (The spreadsheet program.)

Common mistakes with accel and excel

• ✗ She really accels at chess.
  ✓ She really excels at chess.
• ✗ The team hopes to accel in the finals.
  ✓ The team hopes to excel in the finals.
• ✗ Open the Accel file to see the budget.
  ✓ Open the Excel file to see the budget.
• ✗ Mark the score excel. before the final bars.
  ✓ Mark the score accel. before the final bars.
• ✗ He accelled in every subject.
  ✓ He excelled in every subject.

How can you remember which one to use?

Ask yourself whether you mean “do exceptionally well” or “speed up.” Here are three memory tricks:

1. The “ex” link: Excel starts with “ex,” like expert and exceptional.
2. The “acc” link: Accel starts with “acc,” like accelerate, and both are about speed.
3. The swap test: If you can replace the word with “do exceptionally well,” write excel. If you can replace it with “speed up,” you mean accel.

FAQ: Accel vs Excel

Is it ‘accel’ or ‘excel’?

Use ‘excel’ for being exceptionally good at something. ‘Accel’ is not a standard word; it is a short form of accelerando in music or a casual shortening of acceleration.

Is ‘accel’ a real word?

Not as a standard verb. It appears as a music abbreviation for accelerando and as informal shorthand for acceleration, and Accel is also a company name.

What does ‘accel.’ mean in music?

It is short for accelerando, an instruction to gradually speed up.

What is the difference between excel and Excel?

Lowercase ‘excel’ is the verb meaning to be exceptionally good. Capitalized ‘Excel’ usually refers to Microsoft’s spreadsheet program.

How do you spell the past tense of excel?

It is ‘excelled,’ with two Ls. The present participle is ‘excelling.’

Conclusion

When you’re stuck on accel vs excel, remember that “excel” is the real verb for doing exceptionally well, while “accel” is a short form for speeding up or a company name. Try the swap test whenever you are unsure. Share this with someone who mixes these up!