A word is spelled in four different ways. You are to identify the one which is correct. Choose the alternative bearing the correct spelling from (a), (b), (c) and (d).

Question

Prepp Team · Accepted Answer

Identifying the Correct Spelling: Understanding 'Argument'

The question asks us to find the correct spelling among four given options. We need to carefully examine each option to determine which one follows standard English spelling rules for the word in question.

The word being tested is related to a discussion where people disagree or present reasons for their opinions. Let's look at the options provided:

Option (a): Argyument
Option (b): Argument
Option (c): Arguement
Option (d): Argyooment

Let's analyze each spelling:

Argyument: This spelling is incorrect. The 'y' is not typically used in the initial part of this word, and the ending '-ument' is also not the standard form.
Argument: This is the standard and correct spelling of the word. It follows the established orthography in English.
Arguement: This is a very common misspelling. People often incorrectly include an 'e' before the 'm'. This happens because the base verb is "argue," but when adding suffixes like '-ment', the 'e' at the end of "argue" is dropped.
Argyooment: This spelling is significantly incorrect. The 'y' is wrong, and 'ooment' is not a recognized suffix or part of this word's spelling.

Comparing the options, only 'Argument' is the accepted and correct way to spell the word.

Common Spelling Mistakes with 'Argument'

The most frequent error seen with this word is 'Arguement'. This mistake arises from not dropping the final 'e' of 'argue' before adding the suffix '-ment'. Understanding how suffixes are added to base words can help avoid such errors.

Summary of Spellings

Spelling	Correctness	Notes
Argyument	Incorrect	Does not follow standard spelling.
Argument	Correct	Standard English spelling.
Arguement	Incorrect	Common misspelling (includes extra 'e').
Argyooment	Incorrect	Significant deviation from standard spelling.

Therefore, the alternative bearing the correct spelling is 'Argument'.

Revision Table: Key Spelling Points

Word	Base Word	Suffix	Correct Spelling	Common Misspelling
Argument	argue	-ment	Argument	Arguement

Remember: When adding '-ment' to 'argue', drop the final 'e'.

Additional Information: Suffixes and Spelling Rules

Understanding how suffixes like '-ment' are added to base words is crucial for correct spelling. Here's a simple rule:

When adding '-ment' to a verb that ends in a silent 'e', often the 'e' is dropped (e.g., argue + ment → argument, judge + ment → judgment/judgement).
However, some words keep the 'e' (e.g., announce + ment → announcement). The rules can be complex and sometimes have exceptions or variations (like judgment/judgement). For 'argument', the rule is to drop the 'e'.

Paying attention to such rules and common exceptions helps in mastering English spelling.