Question:

It is our responsibility to leave a green and clean world for our _______.

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Use \emph{descendants} in formal writing. Remember: “descend” + “ants” = descendants — those who have descended from you in the family tree.
Updated On: Jul 15, 2026
  • descendents
  • decendants
  • descendants
  • descendantes
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The Correct Option is C

Approach Solution - 1

The most widely accepted and standard spelling is descendants (C), which refers to people who come after you in a family line — future generations. In formal English, “descendants” is the correct choice in most contexts.
However, descendents (A) is sometimes seen as a variant spelling, especially in older or informal writings. While not the preferred modern form, it is still understood to mean the same thing.
Option (B) \emph{decendants} is incorrect as it drops the “s” after “de”. Option (D) \emph{descendantes} is not a recognized English spelling.
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Approach Solution -2

The question asks for the correctly spelled word to complete a sentence about leaving a clean world for future generations. Let's examine each spelling.

  1. Descendents: This spelling replaces the "a" in the middle syllable with an "e." It shows up occasionally in older or informal writing, but it is not the standard modern spelling recognised by most style guides and dictionaries.
  2. Decendants: This spelling drops the "s" after "de," which breaks the word's root "descendere" (to climb down). Removing that letter makes the spelling incorrect.
  3. Descendants: This keeps the full root "descend" intact and adds the standard "-ants" ending used for people who come after someone in a family line. It is the spelling accepted in formal and everyday English alike.
  4. Descendantes: Adding an "es" at the end is not a recognised English plural pattern for this word; it looks like a form borrowed from another language rather than standard English.

Weighing the four spellings against the correct root and ending shows that only the third option preserves both the "descend" root and the standard "-ants" suffix without any letters missing, doubled, or added.

Therefore, the correct answer is descendants.

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Approach Solution -3

This word is built from a family that already includes "descend", "descends", and "descending", so checking each option against that family is a reliable way to spot the right spelling.

  1. Descendents: The family root is spelled "descend-", with an "a" in the next syllable when the "-ant" ending is added (compare "attendant", "assistant"). Swapping that "a" for an "e" breaks from the family's usual pattern.
  2. Decendants: This drops the "s" that every member of the family carries ("descend", "descent", "descending"), so it does not belong to the family at all as spelled.
  3. Descendants: This keeps "descend" fully intact, the same spelling seen in "descend" and "descending", and adds "-ants", the same ending seen in "attendants" and "assistants".
  4. Descendantes: No member of the "descend" family ever takes an "-es" ending in standard English, making this an invented form rather than a real word.

Only one option preserves the "descend" root exactly as it appears throughout its whole word family while also using a genuine English ending.

Therefore, the correct answer is descendants.

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