In the following English spelling question, four alternative spellings of the same noun are given. Select the correctly spelt word meaning lack of strong flavour or excitement.

Introduction / Context:
This question assesses the ability to identify the correct spelling of a common English noun. The target word is the abstract noun formed from the adjective “bland”, which refers to something that lacks strong taste, flavour, or excitement. Spelling accuracy is important both in formal writing and in competitive examinations.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The base adjective is “bland”. - The noun form expresses the state or quality of being bland. - Four similar spellings and one extra distractor are provided. - Only one spelling conforms to standard dictionary usage.

Concept / Approach:
The standard way to form an abstract noun from many adjectives in English is to add the suffix “-ness”. For example, “happy” becomes “happiness”, and “sad” becomes “sadness”. The word “bland” follows the same pattern, forming “blandness”. Candidates should check whether the root “bland” is intact and whether the suffix is spelled exactly as “ness” without extra or missing letters. Any variation such as “nes”, “eness”, or “nesse” indicates an incorrect form.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the root adjective “bland”. The correct base is B L A N D. Step 2: Recall that the noun meaning the state or quality of being bland is “blandness”. Step 3: Examine option “Blandness”. It keeps the root intact and adds the regular suffix “ness”. This matches the expected pattern. Step 4: Examine “Blandnes”. This drops the final “s” of “ness”, so the suffix is incomplete and incorrect. Step 5: Examine “Blandeness”. Here an extra “e” has been inserted, producing an unusual and non-standard form. Step 6: Examine “Blanden es”. This breaks the word into two parts and distorts both the root and the suffix. Step 7: Examine “Blandnesse”. This adds an extra “e” at the end and suggests an archaic style that is not used in standard modern spelling.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, one can mentally place the word in a sentence such as “The blandness of the soup made the meal uninteresting.” Only “blandness” looks and sounds natural in this context. A dictionary or trusted resource on vocabulary will also list “blandness” as the correct noun form without any additional letters. None of the other variants appear in normal modern English usage, confirming that they are incorrect spellings.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Blandnes: The missing second “s” makes the suffix incomplete and non-standard. Blandeness: The inserted “e” interrupts the link between the root and the “ness” suffix, creating an incorrect form. Blanden es: This breaks the word structure and introduces a space, so it does not represent a valid single English word. Blandnesse: This form resembles old-fashioned spellings but is not accepted in modern standard English for exam purposes.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates often confuse the suffixes “-ness”, “-nesses”, or “-eness” when they are less familiar with a word. Another common problem is inserting or dropping letters due to how the word sounds in rapid speech. To avoid such mistakes, examine whether the root word is clearly visible and whether the suffix matches known patterns. Regular reading, spelling practice, and use of vocabulary notebooks are practical strategies to strengthen spelling skills for examination settings.

Final Answer:
The correctly spelt noun formed from “bland” is Blandness.