In the following question, four spellings of a word are given. Out of the four alternatives, select the correctly spelt word. (Which is the correct spelling for the noun meaning "extreme cruelty or savagery"?)

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: brutality

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This spelling question asks you to identify the correct spelling of the common noun meaning "extreme cruelty or savagery". The word is derived from "brutal", which means cruel or violent. When you add the suffix "-ity" to form the noun, the result is "brutality". You must distinguish this correct form from several similar looking misspellings.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Target word: the noun form of "brutal".
  • Options: brutalety, brutality, bruttality, bruttalety.
  • We know the base adjective is spelled "brutal".
  • The common noun forming suffix for such adjectives is "-ity".


Concept / Approach:
The correct spelling is formed by combining "brutal" with the suffix "-ity" to form "brutality". The important points are: keep the single "t" from "brutal", retain the "a" and "l", and then add "-ity" (i t y). Any spellings that change the number of "t"s, replace "-ity" with "-ety", or alter internal vowels are incorrect. Thus, "brutality" is the only option that follows the normal and widely used pattern.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Start with the adjective "brutal": b r u t a l.Step 2: Add the noun suffix "-ity": brutal + ity = brutality.Step 3: Check option B, "brutality". It matches exactly this combination with one "t" and the ending "-ity".Step 4: Check option A, "brutalety". Here the ending is "-ety" instead of "-ity", which is not the standard noun form.Step 5: Check options C and D, "bruttality" and "bruttalety". Both of these insert a double "t" ("tt") and still struggle with the ending, making them incorrect.


Verification / Alternative check:
Consider similar adjective noun pairs: "brutal" → "brutality", "fatal" → "fatality", "local" → "locality". In each case, the pattern is adjective + "ity". None of these change to "-ety" or double the "t". Additionally, if you look at common usage in books, newspapers, or online articles, you will always see "brutality" when referring to extreme cruelty (for example, "police brutality", "wartime brutality"). This consistent usage confirms "brutality" as the correct spelling.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, "brutalety", mixes the root "brutal" with an incorrect ending "-ety", which does not correspond to the usual English pattern for this noun. Options C and D, "bruttality" and "bruttalety", both introduce an extra "t", resulting in "bruttal", which is not the base adjective. They also suffer from the same incorrect "-ety" ending in the case of D. These forms do not appear in standard dictionaries and would be marked wrong in formal writing.


Common Pitfalls:
Students often struggle with words that convert adjectives ending in "-al" into nouns ending in "-ity". They may mistakenly double consonants or confuse "-ity" with "-ety" or "-aty". To avoid such errors, it is helpful to learn a small group of these pairs by heart and notice the consistent pattern. Visual memory of familiar phrases like "cruelty and brutality" will also guide you to the correct spelling during exams.


Final Answer:
The correctly spelt word is brutality.

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