From the following options, select the correctly spelt English word.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: scabbard

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This spelling question checks whether you can recognise the correct spelling of a standard English word when it is presented among several similar looking incorrect forms. Accurate spelling is important in competitive exams, descriptive answers, and professional communication, so being familiar with the visual form of common words offers a clear advantage.


Given Data / Assumptions:

    - Four options are provided: lammented, scabbard, ordenance, synaptick. - Exactly one of these words is correctly spelt in standard English. - The others are deliberate misspellings of real words. - You must select the correctly spelt word, not guess based only on pronunciation.


Concept / Approach:
The word scabbard is a common noun meaning the sheath or cover for a sword or dagger. This spelling, s c a b b a r d, is the accepted dictionary form. The other options attempt to resemble genuine words but contain spelling errors: lammented tries to mimic lamented or lament, ordenance misrepresents ordinance or ordnance, and synaptick distorts the adjective synaptic. Recognising these base words and their normal spelling allows you to safely reject the incorrect variants.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Look at lammented. The familiar verb form is lamented with a single m and no double t after n, so lammented is incorrect. Step 2: Examine ordenance. Standard English has ordinance, meaning a law or regulation, and ordnance, meaning military weapons, but ordenance with e after d does not match either accepted spelling. Step 3: Consider synaptick. The correct adjective related to synapse is synaptic or sometimes synaptical, but not synaptick with a final k. Step 4: Check scabbard. This is the recognised spelling for the protective sheath of a blade, often appearing in historical or literary texts. Step 5: Conclude that scabbard is the only correctly spelt option among the four.


Verification / Alternative check:
Imagine each word in a sentence. For example, The knight drew his sword from its scabbard is a natural and correct sentence. Spell checkers in word processors and browsers will flag lammented, ordenance, and synaptick as errors, but scabbard will usually pass without underlining. This mental check, based on prior reading and exposure, is a useful way to confirm your choice under exam conditions.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Lammented incorrectly doubles the m and t and does not appear as a standard form in dictionaries. Ordenance is a confused mixture of ordinance and ordnance and is not accepted as a correct spelling of either. Synaptick attaches an unnecessary k and does not correspond to standard scientific usage, which prefers synaptic. Since none of these forms match recognised spellings, they must all be rejected.


Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes assume that the longest or most complex looking word is correct, or they may believe that scientific sounding words like synaptick must be technical terms. A better approach is to connect the options with words you have actually seen in books, articles, or reliable websites. Over time, regular reading helps to build a visual memory of correct spellings, so words like scabbard immediately look right while others appear suspicious.


Final Answer:
scabbard is the correctly spelt word among the given options.

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