Practice
Spelling practice: choose and check common forms
Sign in to saveDo you get confused when you spell exercise? This guide shows each part.
You may use exercise for a workout or a task in a book. The context shows which one.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
exercise EK-ser-syz
The short answer
Spell exercise e-x-e-r-c-i-s-e, with one x and one c. The -ing form is exercising.
I get some exercise before work.
Why it works: Use exercise for physical activity.
3 more examples
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Talking about fitness
She does thirty minutes of exercise every morning.
Use exercise for physical fitness.
Not this:She does thirty minutes of
excerciseevery morning. What changes: Adding an extra c after x breaks the standard spelling. -
In an English class
We completed the grammar exercise together.
A study task is also called an exercise.
Not this:We completed the grammar
exersisetogether. What changes: Using s instead of c creates a spelling error. -
A friend at the gym
He is exercising at the gym right now.
Drop the silent e before you add -ing to make exercising.
Not this:He is
exerciseingat the gym right now. What changes: Keeping the silent e before -ing looks unnatural and incorrect.
Quick check
Which sentence uses the correct base spelling?
Planning your weekly workout schedule
Answer: I need more exercise this week.
Show the answer
Answer: I need more exercise this week.
The standard base form exercise has one x and one c.
Read the full guide
You sit down to write an email about your workout or your homework. You pause at the keyboard because the letters look strange. This guide shows where each letter goes.
Workout and study tasks
The problem: I hear it and I never know which meaning they want.
The noun exercise can mean physical activity or a particular task for learning. The surrounding sentence shows which meaning is intended.
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Daily exercise is part of her morning routine.
Why it works: Here exercise means a physical workout.
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Open your book to page four for the listening exercise.
Why it works: Here exercise means a study task.
Your turn
What does exercise mean in "Complete exercise four"?
Answer: a learning task
Show the answer
Answer: a learning task
Here, exercise means one particular task for learning.
Letters behind the sound
The problem: I get confused by the sounds in exercise and add an extra c or use s instead of c.
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Not this:
I like morning excercise.Say: I like morning exercise.
Use one c in the word. The standard form is exercise.
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Not this:
We finished our exersise.Say: We finished our exercise.
Write the middle sound with c, not s. The word is exercise.
Has one x and one c.
I do my exercise.
Extra c or wrong letters.
excercise or exersise
Your turn
Which is the standard spelling?
Answer: exercise
Show the answer
Answer: exercise
Exercise has one x and one c.
Drop the silent e
The problem: I write exerciseing because I forget to drop the silent e before -ing.
Keep the final e.
I need to exercise.
Drop the e and add -ing.
He is exercising now.
-
Not this:
She is exerciseing in the hall.Say: She is exercising in the hall.
The final e drops when adding -ing to exercise.
Exercise or practice
The problem: I mix up exercise and practice when talking about learning or training.
One specific drill or workout.
Do page ten's grammar exercise.
Repeating a skill over time.
Piano practice takes time.
Before you go
Question 1 of 2
Put the words to make a correct sentence.
Answer: Daily exercise fits into my schedule.
Show the answer
Answer: Daily exercise fits into my schedule.
Exercise is the subject. Fits into shows how it works with the schedule.
Question 2 of 2 · One new sentence
You text your running buddy after a morning run. Which message is spelled correctly?
Texting a running partner after a morning run
Answer: I finished my daily exercise before breakfast.
Show the answer
Answer: I finished my daily exercise before breakfast.
The standard spelling exercise has one x and one c.
Remember this
Write exercise with x, one c, and the ending ise. Check the written letters when you proofread.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Spelling practice: choose and check common forms"
How do you spell exercise?
The standard spelling is exercise: e-x-e-r-c-i-s-e. It contains x, then one c, and ends in ise.
Daily exercise is part of my routine.
This exercise has five questions.
Is excercise a correct spelling?
No. Excercise incorrectly adds a second c after the x. Write exercise with only one c in the middle.
Exercise is the correct form.
Excercise is a spelling error.
Is exercize an American spelling?
No. Exercise ends in ise in both standard American and British English. The form exercize is a spelling error.
We exercise after work.
The workbook contains an exercise.
How do I spell exercise with ing?
Drop the final silent e before adding ing, so exercise becomes exercising. Do not keep the e in the middle.
She is exercising outside.
We started exercising together.
Can exercise mean a learning task?
Yes. Exercise can mean a specific task used to learn or practice a skill, as well as physical activity.
Complete the grammar exercise on page ten.