Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Colleague
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This spelling question focuses on a very common English word used in professional and academic settings, namely the noun for a person who works with you in the same organisation or profession. Correct spelling of such high frequency words is essential in emails, letters, and examinations.
Given Data / Assumptions:
The options are Culleague, Coleague, Colleague, Colleegue, and Collegue. All of them resemble the correct word but contain different combinations of vowels and double consonants. Only one matches the standard dictionary spelling.
Concept / Approach:
The correct spelling of the word is colleague. It comes from a Latin root meaning chosen together. The internal structure is col lea gue, with a double l but a single g, and the vowel sequence e a g u e at the end. Remembering common patterns such as league and colleague can help fix the spelling in your mind.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the familiar workplace term is spelled colleague in formal English.Step 2: Break it into parts: col plus league, which makes it easier to remember.Step 3: Compare each option with this known pattern. Only option Colleague has the correct sequence c o l l e a g u e.Step 4: Notice that the other options add or remove letters or change the arrangement of vowels.Step 5: Select Colleague as the correctly spelt form.
Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify by recalling phrases like friends and colleagues or dear colleagues in formal communications. The spelling colleague with the final gue ending is consistent with other English words of French origin, such as league, intrigue, and fatigue. The other listed forms do not appear in standard dictionaries as accepted spellings of this word.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Culleague begins with cu instead of co and therefore does not match the known form. Coleague misses one of the internal letters and does not preserve the league pattern. Colleegue introduces an unnecessary double e before g, making the word look unnatural. Collegue omits the final a before gue, changing the familiar league ending. All four are typical distractors that test whether you know the exact order of letters.
Common Pitfalls:
Because colleague is often pronounced with a long vowel sound, many learners are unsure where to place the double consonant and extra vowels. They may also confuse it with college or colleague like forms. Creating a mental link between colleague and league and remembering that both share the sequence league can greatly reduce spelling errors.
Final Answer:
The correctly spelt word for a person who works with you is Colleague.
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