As with many words that sound similar when spoken, accel and excel are often confused in writing. Being vigilant about the intended meaning and following a few simple guidelines will ensure that you don’t mix up these two words. Define excel as: to do better, surpass or be superior. Someone who excels at something is more than just good at it; they are outstanding, well beyond the norm or the average. Synonyms for excel include skillful, proficient, outdo and outshine. Use excel as a verb. Here are some examples of proper usage: “She excels in math” and “Bill excelled beyond his competitors.” Define accel as speed up or accelerate. Accel is actually an abbreviation of accelerando, a word used in music to indicate a gradual increase in pace. More often, however, we use accel as an abbreviation of the word accelerate, usually referring to driving a motorized vehicle or a physical activity such as running. Use accel as a verb. Examples include “He accelled when he got to the straight away