In the following question, four spellings are given. Select the correctly spelt word related to careful and persistent effort.

Introduction / Context:
This spelling question tests your ability to recognise the standard English spelling of a common abstract noun. The word in focus means careful and persistent effort or hard work, especially in tasks that require attention to detail. Correct spelling is important in formal writing, examinations, and professional communication, and confusing vowels or consonant patterns is a frequent source of errors.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The task is to choose the correct spelling of the word meaning steady, careful effort.
- The options are deligence, diligence, delegence, dilegence, and dilligence.
- Only one of these forms is recognized in standard dictionaries.

Concept / Approach:
The correct English word is diligence, spelled d i l i g e n c e. It comes from the Latin word diligentia, meaning attentiveness or carefulness. Many incorrect spellings arise because learners misplace the vowel i or insert extra consonants. A good strategy is to break the word into parts: dil i gence. Only this pattern matches dictionary usage. All other options either alter the vowels, double consonants unnecessarily, or rearrange letters in a way that is not accepted.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the standard form of the word used in phrases like due diligence and hard work and diligence.
Step 2: Compare each option with the remembered pattern d i l i g e n c e.
Step 3: Identify option b, diligence, as exactly matching the correct arrangement of letters.
Step 4: Confirm that all other options contain at least one incorrect vowel or consonant arrangement.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can test your memory by placing the word in a common phrase: He completed the project with great diligence. In this context, the spelling diligence looks familiar and correct. Checking a standard dictionary will also confirm that diligence is the accepted spelling. None of the other forms appear as headwords in reliable references, which reinforces that they are simply distractors designed to confuse people who are unsure of the exact order of letters.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- deligence: uses e instead of i after d, which does not match the standard spelling pattern.
- delegence: changes both internal vowels and differs from any recognised English form of the word.
- dilegence: mixes the order of vowels and does not exist as a standard word.
- dilligence: doubles the consonant l unnecessarily; the correct form has only one l.

Common Pitfalls:
Spelling mistakes often come from hearing a word and trying to guess its letters without having seen it in print often enough. Words derived from Latin or French can be particularly tricky, because their spellings do not always match their pronunciation exactly. To avoid such errors, it helps to read widely, note down difficult words, and revise them regularly. Paying attention to common exam words like diligence can significantly boost your spelling accuracy in competitive tests.

Final Answer:
The correctly spelt word is diligence.