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Spellings, Homonyms & Commonly Confused Words

English Comprehension · Vocabulary, Usage & Transformation

Useful for: SSC CGL, OSSC RHT — Regular High School Teacher, OSEPA Primary Teacher / JT Category-I, OSEPA Upper Primary — Arts, OSEPA Upper Primary — Science, OSSC English, OSSSC Govt Physical Education Teacher (PET), OSSSC Govt TGT Arts

and 5 more exams

OSSSC Govt TGT Science — CBZ, OSSSC Govt TGT Science — PCM, SSB Language Teachers, SSB Lecturer (Degree Colleges), SSB TGT Arts

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Overview

Spelling items test frequently misspelt words; homonym items test words that sound alike but differ in meaning.

Key points

Double letters: accommodation, committee, occurrence, embarrass.
Common errors: "definite" not "definate", "separate" not "seperate".
Confused words: affect (verb) / effect (noun); principal (main) / principle (rule).
Stationary (not moving) / stationery (writing materials).
Their / there / they’re; its / it’s.

Explanation

Remember a hook: stationEry → Envelopes; principAL → your PAL the principal.
Compliment (praise) vs complement (completes).
Loose (not tight) vs lose (misplace).
Read the sentence to decide which homonym fits.

Step by step

Check double and silent letters.
Check suffixes.
Use context for homonyms.

Examples

Correct spelling: accommodation (two c, two m).
"The weather will affect our plans; the effect was serious."
"Buy some stationery for the office" (writing materials).

Traps and advanced points

Trap: Single letter where double is needed.
Trap: Using effect as a verb.
Trap: Mixing stationary and stationery.

Quick revision

Double c and m in accommodation.
Affect verb, effect noun.
Stationery = paper.

Practice MCQs

Choose the correctly spelt word.
1. beautifull
2. beutiful
3. beautiful
4. beatiful
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Answer: (c) beautiful. The correct spelling is b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l.
Which spelling of the noun meaning "an event that happens" is correct?
1. occurence
2. occurrence
3. ocurrence
4. occurrance
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Answer: (b) occurrence. Double c, double r: occurrence.
Asha is proofreading a Jaipur office circular. Which spelling should be retained?
1. separate
2. seperete
3. separrate
4. seperate
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Answer: (a) separate. Correct spelling: separate.
Ravi is proofreading a Jaipur office circular. Which spelling should be retained?
1. privelege
2. privilage
3. privilege
4. priviledge
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Answer: (c) privilege. Correct spelling: privilege.
Meera is proofreading a Jaipur office circular. Which spelling should be retained?
1. maintanance
2. maintenance
3. maintenence
4. maintainance
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Answer: (b) maintenance. Correct spelling: maintenance.
Kabir is proofreading a Jaipur office circular. Which spelling should be retained?
1. embarass
2. embarres
3. embarras
4. embarrass
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Answer: (d) embarrass. Correct spelling: embarrass.
Nisha is proofreading a Jaipur office circular. Which spelling should be retained?
1. occurrence
2. occurence
3. ocurrance
4. occurrance
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Answer: (a) occurrence. Correct spelling: occurrence.
Arjun is proofreading a Jaipur office circular. Which spelling should be retained?
1. questionaire
2. questioneer
3. questionnair
4. questionnaire
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Answer: (d) questionnaire. Correct spelling: questionnaire.
Tara is proofreading a Jaipur office circular. Which spelling should be retained?
1. recommend
2. reccomend
3. recommendd
4. recomend
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Answer: (a) recommend. Correct spelling: recommend.
Asha is proofreading an Indore office circular. Which spelling should be retained?
1. separrate
2. seperete
3. seperate
4. separate
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Answer: (d) separate. Correct spelling: separate.
Ravi is proofreading an Indore office circular. Which spelling should be retained?
1. priviledge
2. privilage
3. privilege
4. privelege
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Answer: (c) privilege. Correct spelling: privilege.
Meera is proofreading an Indore office circular. Which spelling should be retained?
1. maintenance
2. maintainance
3. maintenence
4. maintanance
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Answer: (a) maintenance. Correct spelling: maintenance.
Kabir is proofreading an Indore office circular. Which spelling should be retained?
1. embarres
2. embarras
3. embarrass
4. embarass
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Answer: (c) embarrass. Correct spelling: embarrass.
Nisha is proofreading an Indore office circular. Which spelling should be retained?
1. occurence
2. ocurrance
3. occurrance
4. occurrence
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Answer: (d) occurrence. Correct spelling: occurrence.
Arjun is proofreading an Indore office circular. Which spelling should be retained?
1. questionnaire
2. questionnair
3. questionaire
4. questioneer
Read chapter notes · Similar questions
Show answer
Answer: (a) questionnaire. Correct spelling: questionnaire.