All Exams Test series for 1 year @ ₹349 only
Question

If the following words are arranged in the order they would appear in an English dictionary, which word would come in third place?

1. Place

2. Player

3. Plough

4. Plaster

5. Plaque

This question was previously asked in
SSC Stenographer 2020-21 Previous Year Paper (15-Nov-2021) (Shift 2)
The correct answer is

Plaster

Understanding Dictionary Order for Word Arrangement

The question asks us to arrange a given set of words in the order they would appear in an English dictionary and then identify the word that comes in the third position.

The words provided are:

  • Place
  • Player
  • Plough
  • Plaster
  • Plaque

Arranging Words in Dictionary Order

To arrange words in dictionary or alphabetical order, we compare them letter by letter starting from the first letter. If the first letters are the same, we move to the second letter, and so on, until we find a difference. The word with the letter that comes earlier in the alphabet is placed first.

Let's compare the given words:

  1. Place
  2. Player
  3. Plough
  4. Plaster
  5. Plaque

All words start with the letters "Pl". Let's look at the third letter:

  • Place
  • Player
  • Plough
  • Plaster
  • Plaque

Four words have 'a' as the third letter, and one word ('Plough') has 'o'. Since 'a' comes before 'o' in the alphabet, 'Plough' will come after the other four words.

Now let's compare the four words starting with "Pla":

  • Place
  • Player
  • Plaster
  • Plaque

We compare the fourth letters: 'c', 'y', 's', 'q'.

Let's arrange these letters alphabetically:

  • c
  • q
  • s
  • y

So, the words starting with "Pla" will be ordered based on their fourth letter:

  1. Place (because of 'c')
  2. Plaque (because of 'q')
  3. Plaster (because of 's')
  4. Player (because of 'y')

Combining this with 'Plough' coming last, the complete dictionary order is:

  1. Place
  2. Plaque
  3. Plaster
  4. Player
  5. Plough

The word that comes in the third place in this dictionary order is Plaster.

Position Word Comparison Point (4th Letter)
1st Place c
2nd Plaque q
3rd Plaster s
4th Player y
5th Plough (3rd letter 'o', comes after 'a')

Revision Table: Dictionary Skills

Concept Description Example
Alphabetical Order Arranging words based on the sequence of letters in the alphabet (A-Z). Apple, Banana, Cherry
Letter-by-Letter Comparison Comparing words one letter at a time from left to right to determine order. Cat vs. Car (Compare 't' and 'r' - 'r' comes first, so Car < Cat)
Short Words If one word is the beginning of another word, the shorter word comes first. Car vs. Carpet (Car < Carpet)

Additional Information: Using a Dictionary

Dictionaries are organized alphabetically to help users quickly find words. Each page often includes "guide words" at the top corners showing the first and last words on that page. This helps narrow down the search. Understanding dictionary order is a fundamental skill for using reference materials like dictionaries and encyclopedias.

For more complex cases, remember to consider every letter's position. If two words are identical up to a certain point, the word with more letters after that point comes later (unless the shorter word is a complete word itself).

Was this answer helpful?

Similar Questions

  1. Select the option that represents the correct order of the given words as they would appear in an English dictionary.

    1. Reason

    2. Realise

    3. Reader

    4. Reap

    5. Reaction

    6. Rearrange

  2. Select the correct option that indicates the arrangement of the following words in a logical and meaningful order.

    1. Agra

    2. Uttar Pradesh

    3. Asia

    4. India

    5. Taj Mahal

  3. Select the correct option that indicates the arrangement of the given words in a logical and meaningful order.

    1. Food Processing

    2. Plantation

    3. Harvesting

    4. Superstore

    5. Packaging

  4. Select the correct option that indicates the arrangement of the following words in a logical and meaningful order.

    1. Wearing

    2. Measurement

    3. Designer dress

    4. Stitching

  5. Select the correct option that indicates the arrangement of the following words in a logical and meaningful order.

    1. Drive vehicle

    2. Unlock vehicle

    3. Start vehicle

    4. Reach destination

    5. Parking of vehicle

  6. Select the option that represents the correct order of the given words as they would appear in an English dictionary.

    1. Logical

    2. Logistics

    3. Longevity

    4. Locust

    5. Loafer

  7. Select the correct option that indicates the arrangement of the given words in a logical and meaningful order.

    1. Jewellery

    2. Metal

    3. Sell

    4. Melt

    5. Polish

  8. Select the correct option that indicates the arrangement of the given words in a logical and meaningful order.

    1. Garment

    2. Silk moth

    3. Wearing

    4. Silk fabric

    5. Stitching
  9. Select the option that represents the correct order of the given words as they would appear in an English dictionary.

    1. Profess

    2. Product

    3. Prosecute

    4. Precaution

    5. Proctor

  10. Select the option that represents the correct order of the given words as they would appear in an English dictionary.

    1. Fragile

    2. Fracture

    3. Fraud

    4. Fragment

    5. Fridge


Important Questions from Sequence

  1. Select the correct option that indicates the arrangement of the given words in the order in which they appear in an English dictionary.

    1. Prestige

    2. Pristine

    3. Prescribe

    4. Prepaid

    5. Premium

  2. Select the correct option that indicates the arrangement of the given words in the order in which they appear in an English dictionary.

    1. Priceless

    2. Pristine

    3. Prison

    4. Priority

    5. Prejudice

  3. Select the correct option that indicates the arrangement of the given

    words in the order in which they appear in an English dictionary.

    1. School

    2. Stress

    3. Source

    4. Secure

    5. Sweet

  4. Select the correct option that indicates the arrangement of the given words in the order in which they appear in an English dictionary.

    1. Goffer

    2. Goblin

    3. Goatling

    4. Goatish

    5. Goer

  5. Select the correct option that indicates the arrangement of the given words in the order in which they appear in an English dictionary.

    1. Hostile

    2. Hostel 

    3. Hospital

    4. House

    5. Hopeless

Need Expert Advice?
Upcoming Exams
SSC JHT
September 08, 2026
SSC Stenographer
September 09, 2026
SSC Selection Post
September 16, 2026
Test Series
SSC Stenographer img
SSC
SSC Stenographer 2026 Mock Test Series (Latest Version)
1170 Tests 2 Tests Free
2238 Attempts
4.6(243)
English, Hindi
More Questions from SSC Stenographer

Start Your Preparation with Prepp Mobile App

Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Prepp Mobile App