In the following question, four spellings are given. Select the correctly spelt word.

Introduction / Context:
This spelling question tests your familiarity with a common academic and formal word, “consensus.” The word is widely used in discussions, meetings, and written reports to describe general agreement among people. Accurate spelling is essential for clarity and professionalism, especially for words that appear frequently in exam passages and essay questions.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- Options are: “Conssensus”, “Consenssus”, “Consensus”, and “Conssenssus”. - The underlying word intended is “consensus”. - We assume standard modern English spelling. - Our task is to identify the correct and accepted form.

Concept / Approach:
“Consensus” is spelled with a single “n” and a single “s” in each position except for the final “sus” group where “s” appears twice, once in “sen” and once in “sus” but not tripled. Many incorrect spellings add extra consonants because the word sounds like it has multiple “s” sounds. The key is to remember the simple pattern “con-sen-sus” with one “s” in each syllable group.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Break the word into syllables based on pronunciation: con + sen + sus. 2. Assign letters to each syllable: “con” with one “n”, “sen” with one “s”, and “sus” with one “s”. 3. Examine each option: - “Conssensus”: doubles the “s” after “con” and again in “sen”, which is unnecessary. - “Consenssus”: doubles the “s” in the final part “ssus” instead of the correct “sus”. - “Consensus”: correctly follows “con-sen-sus” without extra consonants. - “Conssenssus”: adds multiple extra “s” letters and does not match the standard spelling. 4. Based on these observations, “Consensus” is the correct spelling.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify by recalling common phrases such as “a broad consensus,” “reach a consensus,” or “consensus among experts.” If you have seen this word in newspapers, textbooks, or official documents, you will notice it is always written as “consensus.” Checking reliable reading sources is an excellent habit for reinforcing correct spellings and strengthening your visual memory of words.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- “Conssensus”: Incorrect because of the extra “s” after “con”, creating a double consonant that does not exist in the standard spelling. - “Consenssus”: Incorrect due to the doubled “s” before “us” (“ssus”), which overcomplicates the ending. - “Conssenssus”: Contains multiple unnecessary “s” letters and does not fit any recognised spelling pattern.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners frequently add too many consonants to words that sound like they have repeated “s” or “n” sounds, especially when spoken quickly. This also happens with other words such as “necessary” and “accessory”. The best strategy is to memorise the correct form of high frequency academic words like “consensus” and practise them in your writing so that your hand and eye become familiar with the right pattern.

Final Answer:
The correctly spelt word is Consensus.