In the following question, four words are given. Select the correctly spelt word from the options: consenssus, concensus, concenssus, consensus.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: consensus

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:

Spelling questions involving abstract nouns such as consensus help build your formal writing skills. Consensus is a common term in academic and professional English, referring to general agreement among a group of people. Because the pronunciation can be confusing, many learners misspell it, especially in the middle consonants. Recognising the correct pattern of letters is important for exams and written communication.


Given Data / Assumptions:

- The options given are consenssus, concensus, concenssus, and consensus.

- Only one of these matches the standard English spelling.

- We assume the usual meaning of consensus as general agreement or collective opinion.

- There is no regional variant that changes the basic sequence of letters.


Concept / Approach:

The correct spelling consensus follows the pattern con plus sensus. The letter c does not appear before the second syllable, and there is no double s in the middle. Many wrong spellings arise from overuse of c or extra s characters. By breaking the word into two parts, con and sensus, and remembering that both parts use a single s at each position, you can identify the correct option.


Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Recall seeing consensus in sentences such as There is a consensus among experts. Step 2: Visualise the spelling as con followed by sensus, giving consensus. Step 3: Examine consenssus. This form adds an extra s in the middle, producing sss, which is not standard. Step 4: Examine concensus. This form inserts an unnecessary c in the second syllable, breaking the con plus sensus pattern. Step 5: Examine concenssus. This combines the extra c and extra s errors, making it clearly wrong. Step 6: Examine consensus. This option matches the remembered pattern and is widely used in formal writing.


Verification / Alternative check:

You can verify the correct form by recalling common phrases such as broad consensus, social consensus, or expert consensus. In each case, the base word consensus appears with a single c at the beginning and no double s cluster in the middle. If you have access to a dictionary in a real study environment, a quick check would confirm consensus as the only correct spelling. The other variants do not appear as valid entries.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Consenssus is wrong because it inserts an extra s, leading to an unnatural triple s sequence. Concensus is wrong because of the extra c, which does not belong in the second syllable. Concenssus combines both errors, making the word far from the accepted form. None of these alternatives matches the visually and phonetically balanced spelling that native writers use.


Common Pitfalls:

One common pitfall is to rely purely on sound and imagine that consensus should match census or other similar sounding words, which may lead to inserting an extra c. Another is to add an extra s due to the hissing sound in the middle of the word. To avoid these mistakes, practice writing consensus while saying it slowly, and remember the internal sequence sensus. Over time, your visual memory of the correct spelling will become strong enough to spot incorrect forms quickly.


Final Answer:

The correctly spelt word is consensus.

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