Question

Which one of the following is an incorrectly spelled word?

• A. assassination
• B. multidisciplinery
• C. linguistic
• D. refurbished

Hint:

Pay close attention to suffixes like ``-ary'' and ``-ery'' as they are common targets for spelling tests.
Most academic adjectives related to fields of study use the ``-ary'' spelling pattern.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks us to identify the word that has been spelled incorrectly among the given four options.
This assesses the candidate's familiarity with academic suffixes and word structures.

Step 2: Key Concepts and Grammar Rules:
Suffixes such as ``-ary'' and ``-ery'' can be confusing.
The suffix ``-ary'' is used to form adjectives meaning ``relating to'' or ``connected with'', whereas ``-ery'' usually denotes a business, place, or collective state.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:

• Option (A) - assassination: This spelling is correct.
A helpful memory aid for this word is to note that it contains the word ``ass'' twice, followed by ``i'' and ``nation'' (ass-ass-i-nation).

• Option (B) - multidisciplinery: This spelling is incorrect.
The word is derived from the root ``discipline'' combined with the prefix ``multi-'' and the suffix ``-ary''.
Therefore, the correct spelling is ``multidisciplinary'' ending with an 'a' instead of an 'e'.

• Option (C) - linguistic: This spelling is correct.
It relates to language or linguistics, derived from the Latin word ``lingua'' meaning tongue.

• Option (D) - refurbished: This spelling is correct.
It is the past participle form of the verb ``refurbish'', meaning to renovate or redecorate.


Step 4: Final Answer:
Since option (B) is spelled incorrectly, it is the designated answer.