If the following words are arranged alphabetically as in an English dictionary, which one of them will come first: Collotype, Colon, College, Collective?

Introduction / Context:
Dictionary ordering questions check understanding of alphabetical order beyond the first few letters. When several words share the same initial sequence of letters, we must compare them character by character until a difference appears. This is exactly what happens with the words starting with "Collo" or "Colle". The task is to determine which word would appear first if we looked for them in a standard English dictionary.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- Words to compare: Collotype, Colon, College, Collective.
- All words begin with the letters C O L.
- Dictionary order is based on the alphabetical order of letters from left to right.
- When letters match so far, we move to the next letter to break the tie.

Concept / Approach:
We use lexicographic comparison, the same principle underlying dictionary ordering. First compare the first letter of each word. If they are the same, move to the second letter, and so on. Whenever we find a position where two words differ, the word with the letter earlier in the alphabet at that position comes first. We continue this until the exact relative order is determined.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Compare the first three letters of all words. Each begins with C (1st), O (2nd), L (3rd), so they remain tied. Step 2: Examine the fourth letter: all words again have L as the fourth letter, so the tie continues. Step 3: Examine the fifth letter: Collotype has O, Colon has O, College has E, Collective has E. Step 4: Between letter E and O, E comes before O in the alphabet. Therefore, any word with E at this position will precede those with O. Step 5: Now focus only on the words with E at the fifth position: College and Collective. Their common starting pattern is C O L L E. Step 6: Next letters: College has G as the sixth letter, while Collective has C as the sixth letter. Since C comes before G, Collective will come before College. Step 7: Therefore, among all four words, Collective is the first in dictionary order.

Verification / Alternative check:
List the words in approximate alphabetical order based on the reasoning above: Collective, College, Collotype, Colon. Check each adjacent pair: "Collective" vs "College" differs at the sixth letter C vs G, confirming Collective first. "College" vs "Collotype" differs at the fifth letter E vs O, confirming all E words appear before O words. This supports the conclusion that Collective must appear before every other option.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- "Collotype" and "Colon" have O at the key fifth position, placing them after words with E at that position.
- "College" does have E at the fifth position but loses to Collective at the sixth position where G comes after C.
Therefore, none of these can precede Collective in strict dictionary ordering.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates often look only at the first few letters and assume that shorter or more familiar words like "Colon" will come first. Others may not carefully move character by character and miss the crucial position where words differ. Practising the technique of sequential comparison, and writing letters in columns if necessary, helps solve such problems accurately and quickly in exams.

Final Answer:
When arranged alphabetically as in a dictionary, the word that comes first is Collective.