Find the correctly spelled English word from the following options.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Ominous

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Spelling questions are a regular feature of English language exams. They test not only memory but also familiarity with common words used in reading and writing. The word "ominous" is often encountered in literature, news reports, and descriptions of events that give a feeling of something bad likely to happen. This question asks the learner to spot the correctly spelled form among several similar looking options that contain deliberate spelling errors.


Given Data / Assumptions:
- One of the options is the word "Ominous", while the others are "Addulation", "Adlation", "Omineous", and "Ominuos".
- The task is to choose the only correctly spelled standard English word.
- We assume that the question aims at the word "ominous", which means threatening or giving a sign of something unpleasant to come.


Concept / Approach:
The correct spelling of the word is "ominous", with the letters O M I N O U S in that order. The pronunciation is roughly "om i nus", with three syllables. The letters after the first "o" form a pattern that remains the same: "minous". Common misspellings may add extra letters, change the order of vowels, or double consonants incorrectly. The approach is to identify which option matches the correct pattern and to recognise that the other options break the expected sequence of letters for "ominous" or try to imitate unrelated words such as "adulation".


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the correct spelling of the word that means threatening or indicating something bad: "ominous". Step 2: Check option B, "Ominous". It matches the remembered spelling exactly, with the letters in the correct order. Step 3: Look at option A, "Addulation". This seems to imitate "adulation", a different word meaning excessive praise, and contains an extra "d". Step 4: Option C, "Adlation", is not a correct spelling of any common English word and is missing letters from "adulation". Step 5: Option D, "Omineous", adds an extra "e" and changes the internal pattern of vowels, which does not match the known form "ominous". Step 6: Option E, "Ominuos", changes the order of letters near the end, placing "u" before "o", which again is incorrect. Step 7: Therefore, "Ominous" in option B is the only correctly spelled word.


Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, imagine using the word in a sentence such as "Dark clouds gathered in the sky, and the sound of distant thunder grew ominous." If you consult a reliable dictionary or recall typical textbook usage, you will see the spelling given as "ominous". The other options do not appear in standard dictionaries, and spelling checkers in word processors will mark them as incorrect. This supports the choice of option B as the correct spelling.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Addulation: Incorrect form of "adulation". It includes an unnecessary double "d" and is not recognised as standard spelling.
Adlation: Another incorrect version that omits letters and does not match any common English word.
Omineous: Contains an extra "e" and does not follow the usual structure of the target word.
Ominuos: Swaps the order of letters "o" and "u" near the end, producing a non standard spelling.


Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes choose a word that simply looks complicated because they assume that longer or more complex spellings are correct. Others may misremember "adulation" and think that any similar form is acceptable. To avoid such mistakes, it is helpful to read widely and pay attention to how words appear on the page. For words like "ominous", remembering a few example sentences can fix the correct spelling in the mind. Regular practice with spelling lists and reading will gradually reduce errors in such questions.


Final Answer:
The correctly spelled English word among the options is Ominous.

Discussion & Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Join Discussion