📑 Topics on this page (Jump to Topic):
📌 1. Spelling Rules
| Rule | Examples | Exception |
|---|---|---|
| i before e except after c (for the "ee" sound) | believe, achieve, field | receive, ceiling, deceive | seize, weird, protein, either |
| One-syllable/stressed final syllable, short vowel + single consonant → double before a vowel suffix | run→running, stop→stopped, begin→beginning, occur→occurred | visit→visited (stress not on last syllable) |
| Drop silent e before a vowel suffix | make→making, hope→hoping, write→writing | noticeable, courageous (soft c/g ke liye e rehta hai) |
| Consonant + y → i before a suffix | happy→happiness, carry→carried, beauty→beautiful | carrying (-ing ke saath y rehta hai) |
| -able often follows a full word; -ible a partial root | readable, acceptable | visible, possible, terrible | — |
💡 Memory Tip: British spelling (used in SSC): colour, honour, centre, programme, travelled, defence (noun), practise (verb) / practice (noun), licence (noun) / license (verb).
📌 2. 30 Commonly Misspelt Words
| Correct spelling | Common mistake / memory hook |
|---|---|
| accommodate | double c, double m |
| achieve | i before e |
| acquaintance | acq + -ance |
| embarrass | double r, double s |
| occurrence | double c, double r, -ence |
| millennium | double l, double n |
| necessary | one c, two s (one collar, two sleeves) |
| privilege | no d; -ilege |
| separate | "a rat" in sep-a-rate |
| definitely | contains "finite" |
| conscience / conscious | inner voice / aware |
| committee | double m, t, e |
| guarantee | gu + a |
| liaison | i-a-i |
| maintenance | not "maintainance" |
| manoeuvre | British: -oeuvre |
| mischievous | -vous (not -vious) |
| questionnaire | double n |
| rhythm | no vowel after y |
| entrepreneur | -preneur |
| bureaucracy | bureau + cracy |
| pronunciation | drops the "o" of pronounce |
| surveillance | double l + -ance |
| unnecessary | un + necessary |
| withhold | double h |
| harass | one r, double s |
| recommend | one c, double m |
| occasion | double c, one s |
| perseverance | -sever- + -ance |
| receive | e before i after c |
⚠️ Exam Traps:
- Options differ by a single letter — read each one syllable by syllable.
- When asked for the incorrectly spelt word, eliminate the three correct ones.
📌 3. Practice MCQs
📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. Choose the correctly spelt word. Practice
Correct answer: (D) Accommodate
Explanation: Double c and double m: accommodate.
Explanation: Double c and double m: accommodate.
Q2. Choose the correctly spelt word. Practice
Correct answer: (A) Embarrass
Explanation: Double r, double s.
Explanation: Double r, double s.
Q3. Choose the correctly spelt word. Practice
Correct answer: (C) Necessary
Explanation: One c, double s.
Explanation: One c, double s.
Q4. Choose the correctly spelt word. Practice
Correct answer: (A) Separate
Explanation: 'a rat' in sep-a-rate.
Explanation: 'a rat' in sep-a-rate.
Q5. Choose the correctly spelt word. Practice
Correct answer: (D) Occurrence
Explanation: Double c, double r, -ence.
Explanation: Double c, double r, -ence.
Q6. Choose the correctly spelt word. Practice
Correct answer: (B) Millennium
Explanation: Double l, double n.
Explanation: Double l, double n.
Q7. Choose the correctly spelt word. Practice
Correct answer: (D) Privilege
Explanation: There is no 'd': privilege.
Explanation: There is no 'd': privilege.
Q8. Choose the correctly spelt word. Practice
Correct answer: (B) Receive
Explanation: After c → e before i: receive.
Explanation: After c → e before i: receive.
Q9. Choose the correctly spelt word. Practice
Correct answer: (C) Maintenance
Explanation: Derived from maintain, but spelt 'maintenance'.
Explanation: Derived from maintain, but spelt 'maintenance'.
Q10. Choose the correctly spelt word. Practice
Correct answer: (A) Mischievous
Explanation: -vous, not -vious.
Explanation: -vous, not -vious.
Q11. Choose the correctly spelt word. Practice
Correct answer: (B) Questionnaire
Explanation: Double n + -aire.
Explanation: Double n + -aire.
Q12. Choose the correctly spelt word. Practice
Correct answer: (D) Entrepreneur
Explanation: entre + pre + neur.
Explanation: entre + pre + neur.
Q13. Choose the correctly spelt word. Practice
Correct answer: (A) Surveillance
Explanation: Double l + -ance.
Explanation: Double l + -ance.
Q14. Choose the correctly spelt word. Practice
Correct answer: (C) Pronunciation
Explanation: The 'o' of pronounce is dropped: pronunciation.
Explanation: The 'o' of pronounce is dropped: pronunciation.
Q15. Choose the incorrectly spelt word. Practice
Correct answer: (B) Commitee
Explanation: Committee has double m, t and e.
Explanation: Committee has double m, t and e.
Q16. Choose the incorrectly spelt word. Practice
Correct answer: (C) Recomend
Explanation: Recommend = one c, double m.
Explanation: Recommend = one c, double m.
Q17. Choose the incorrectly spelt word. Practice
Correct answer: (D) Rythm
Explanation: Correct spelling: rhythm (h after r).
Explanation: Correct spelling: rhythm (h after r).
Q18. Choose the incorrectly spelt word. Practice
Correct answer: (A) Definately
Explanation: Definitely contains 'finite'.
Explanation: Definitely contains 'finite'.
Q19. Choose the correctly spelt word. Practice
Correct answer: (C) Perseverance
Explanation: per-sever-ance.
Explanation: per-sever-ance.
Q20. Choose the correctly spelt word. Practice
Correct answer: (A) Acquaintance
Explanation: acq + -ance.
Explanation: acq + -ance.