In the following spelling question, choose the correctly spelt English word from the four alternatives given.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Dithering

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Spelling based questions check whether you can recognize the standard, correct form of frequently used English words. Here the word in focus is "dithering", which appears in newspapers and formal English to describe hesitation or indecision. Such questions are common in competitive exams because spelling errors can change meaning and reduce the quality of written communication.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Four similar looking spellings are provided: "Ditheering", "Dethering", "Dithering", and "Detheering".
  • Only one of these is the correct standard spelling.
  • The word is often used in the phrase "stop dithering" or "political dithering".
  • We assume modern standard British or international English usage.


Concept / Approach:
The correct spelling of the verb and noun is "dither" and its ing form "dithering". The letter pattern is d i t h e r i n g with a single h and no extra double vowels. Variants like "ditheering" or "detheering" introduce unnecessary double e patterns, and "dethering" changes the vowel order. The best approach is to recall the base word "dither" correctly and then simply add ing to form "dithering".


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Think of the base verb, which is "to dither", meaning to be indecisive.Step 2: Add the continuous tense ending ing to form "dithering". The pattern becomes d i t h e r i n g.Step 3: Check each option carefully, noting the position of every vowel and consonant.Step 4: Observe that option C "Dithering" exactly matches d i t h e r i n g.Step 5: Confirm that the other options contain extra letters or incorrect vowel positions and therefore must be rejected.


Verification / Alternative check:
Looking at any good English dictionary will show the forms "dither" and "dithering". They will not list "ditheering", "dethering", or "detheering" as standard spellings. In addition, you may remember seeing this word in political commentary, where writers say that a leader is "dithering over a decision". That common real world usage helps fix the spelling in memory with the single h and no extra vowels.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Option A "Ditheering" adds an unnecessary extra e, which does not match the base spelling of "dither".
  • Option B "Dethering" changes the vowel order from "di" to "de", which changes the look and is not a recognised English word.
  • Option D "Detheering" combines both errors, with "de" and double e, and clearly does not match the dictionary form.


Common Pitfalls:
In spelling questions, candidates often focus only on the first few letters and guess quickly. However, exam setters purposely create distractors that look very similar at the beginning and differ in the middle or near the end. The safest habit is to mentally pronounce each option slowly and compare it with the base word you know, letter by letter, before choosing.


Final Answer:
The correctly spelt word among the options is "Dithering".

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