Identifying the Incorrect Spelling

The question asks us to find the word that is spelt incorrectly among the given options. Let's examine each word carefully to check its spelling.

• definately: This word is often misspelled. Let's verify its correct spelling.
• existence: This word refers to the state of being real or having actual being. Let's check if this spelling is standard.
• mischievous: This word describes someone or something playfully annoying or harmful. It can be tricky to spell.
• violence: This word refers to behavior involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something. Let's check its spelling.

Upon checking standard English dictionaries, we find the following spellings:

• The correct spelling for the word meaning 'without doubt' or 'certainly' is definitely, not "definately".
• The spelling existence is correct.
• The spelling mischievous is correct. A common mistake is to add an 'i' after the 'v', making it "mischievious", but this is incorrect.
• The spelling violence is correct.

Therefore, the word with the incorrect spelling is "definately". The correct spelling is definitely.

Based on this analysis, "definately" is the word that is incorrectly spelt.

Revision Table: Common Incorrect Spellings

Here is a table showing some common words that are often misspelled, including the word from this question.

Additional Information on English Spelling

English spelling can be challenging due to its history, drawing words from various languages. Here are some points to remember about common spelling patterns and difficulties:

• Many common spelling errors occur in words that sound similar but have different spellings (homophones) or words with tricky vowel or consonant combinations.
• Words ending in '-ence' or '-ance' (like existence, violence, importance, ambulance) or '-ous' or '-ious' (like mischievous, curious, obvious) require careful memorization.
• Double consonants are frequent sources of error (e.g., accommodate, committee, necessary).
• Vowel combinations like 'ie' vs 'ei' (e.g., receive, belief) often follow rules, but there are exceptions.
• Practicing and proofreading are essential for improving spelling accuracy.