Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: variably
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
In this spelling question you must choose the correctly spelled word from four options that all look somewhat similar to real English words. Three contain deliberate errors, while one matches the standard spelling. Identifying the correct word relies on your awareness of common roots, prefixes, and suffixes, as well as your reading experience.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The word variably comes from the adjective variable plus the adverbial suffix ly. Its spelling obeys regular morphological rules. By contrast, dillution and exhumming show doubled consonants that break standard patterns, and garotte, though sometimes seen as a variant, is less straightforward in exam contexts. Variably stands out as the clearly correct and undisputed standard form.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Verification / Alternative check:
Consider how these words appear in standard writing. Scientific and mathematical texts use variably to describe changing quantities. The word appears with this spelling in many reliable sources. Dilution is universally spelled with one l after the initial d and i. Exhuming is always written with one m. Garotte versus garrote involves regional variation, and exams usually avoid such ambiguous variants when testing pure spelling, strengthening the case for variably as the intended answer.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Dillution is wrong because it incorrectly doubles the consonant l. The correct form is dilution.
Exhumming is wrong because the standard verb exhuming doubles the m only in some non standard contexts; the accepted spelling uses a single m.
Garotte is avoided here because of variation and because the exam requires a clear, uncontested choice; among these, variably is the safest correct spelling.
Common Pitfalls:
Students often struggle with words containing Latin or French roots, where double consonants are common. Another pitfall is to overvalue exotic looking spellings like garotte or exhumming and overlook simple, regularly formed words like variably. When in doubt, choose the word that follows straightforward formation rules and that you have seen consistently in reliable texts.
Final Answer:
The correctly spelled word is variably.
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