Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Fanatiecism
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This spelling question requires you to identify the wrongly spelt word from a list. The words here are all moderately advanced vocabulary items that may appear in essays, articles, and competitive examinations. Spotting the incorrect spelling quickly shows strong familiarity with English word-formation patterns.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The correct spelling of the noun derived from "fanatic" is "fanaticism", formed by adding "-ism" to the base. The sequence of letters is f-a-n-a-t-i-c-i-s-m. "Fanatiecism" wrongly inserts an extra "e" and rearranges the letters near the end. "Femininity" (the quality of being female or feminine), "flippant" (not showing a serious or respectful attitude), and "fortuitous" (happening by chance) are all correctly spelt. Therefore, "Fanatiecism" is the only misspelt word.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Check "Femininity": correctly spelt with "feminin-" and the suffix "-ity".
Step 2: Check "Flippant": correctly spelt adjective; double "p" is standard.
Step 3: Check "Fortuitous": correctly spelt; it refers to chance occurrences, often perceived as lucky.
Step 4: Examine "Fanatiecism": the unusual "iec" sequence is not part of any standard derivative of "fanatic". The correct form is "fanaticism".
Step 5: Confirm with the extra correct form "Fanaticism" that "Fanatiecism" is indeed a wrong variant.
Verification / Alternative check:
Use the correctly spelt word in a sentence: "Religious fanaticism can sometimes lead to intolerance." Here, "fanaticism" fits naturally and is recognised by dictionaries. If we tried "fanatiecism", the word would look wrong and would not appear in standard references. Similarly, sentences like "Her femininity was evident in her style", "He gave a flippant answer", and "Their meeting was fortuitous" all demonstrate correct spellings. Comparing these with the odd-looking "Fanatiecism" confirms that it is the misspelt item.
Why Other Options Are Wrong (as incorrect choices):
Option B Femininity is correctly spelt to refer to feminine qualities.
Option C Flippant correctly uses a double "p" and means not taking things seriously.
Option D Fortuitous is the correct spelling for "happening by chance", especially in a beneficial way.
Option E Fanaticism is the correct spelling of the noun form derived from "fanatic", emphasising extreme zeal.
Common Pitfalls:
Students often get confused by how abstract nouns are formed from adjectives like "fanatic". A useful tip is to learn the base word first and then note the most common endings: fanatic → fanaticism, sceptic → scepticism, hero → heroism. Paying attention to these patterns will help you avoid inserting extra vowels or consonants. For words like "femininity", remember that the base "feminine" drops the final "e" before adding "-ity", but the internal spelling "feminin-" remains consistent.
Final Answer:
The incorrectly spelt word is "Fanatiecism".
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