Spelling & Word Usage for English

Spelling and word usage are important parts of English language preparation for competitive exams like SSC, Banking, IBPS, Railways, and government jobs. Many aspirants lose marks in this section because of common spelling mistakes and confusion in correct word usage. With the right practice, knowledge of rules, and access to spelling & word usage PDFs, candidates can easily score high in this area.

What Are Spelling & Word Usage Questions?

Spelling questions test your ability to identify the correct spelling of words from multiple options, while word usage questions check whether you can use a word correctly in context. For example, choosing between “accept” and “except” or identifying the right spelling between “sovereignty” and “soveignty”. These types of questions are frequently asked in SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, Bank PO, IBPS Clerk, and other exams.

Importance in Competitive Exams

English spelling and usage are not only about memorization but also about accuracy and clarity in communication. Examiners often include tricky misspelled words or test words with similar pronunciation but different meanings. A good command over this section helps improve overall English proficiency and boosts confidence in exams.

Most Common Spelling Mistakes & Word Usage Errors

Some of the most commonly misspelt words in English include:

  • Accommodate (not accomodate)

  • Until (not untill)

  • Necessary (not neccessary)

  • Privilege (not privelege)

  • Sovereignty (not sovergnity)

In word usage, confusion often arises with pairs like:

  • Affect vs. Effect

  • Principle vs. Principal

  • Advice vs. Advise

Spelling Rules & Word Usage Strategies

To avoid mistakes, candidates should follow spelling rules such as:

  • Adding -es to words ending in s, x, ch, sh (e.g., box → boxes).

  • Dropping the final e before adding -ing (e.g., make → making).

  • Doubling consonants when adding suffixes to short-vowel words (e.g., run → running).

For word usage, it’s best to practice sentence-based questions that provide context. Many online platforms and PDFs offer word usage practice sets with answers to help aspirants.

Practice Spelling & Word Usage Questions with PDFs

Numerous resources provide spelling and word usage PDFs specifically designed for SSC, Bank, and government exams. These include lists of misspelled words, commonly confused word pairs, and practice quizzes with explanations. Aspirants can download free misspelled words PDFs and word usage practice sets from trusted exam preparation websites.

Tips & Tricks to Avoid Spelling Errors

  • Break words into syllables to remember tricky spellings.

  • Use mnemonics (e.g., necessary → “one collar, two sleeves”).

  • Revise frequently confused words using flashcards.

  • Attempt mock tests and previous year spelling questions.

  • Keep a personal list of spelling mistakes you often make.

Mastering spelling and word usage for English is a key to success in competitive exams. With the right practice sets, word lists, and downloadable PDFs of commonly misspelled words, students can build accuracy and speed. Focus on rules, context, and practice questions with answers to improve your score in SSC, Bank, and other English exams.

Set 1: 20 Questions on Spelling & Word Usage

Q1. Choose the correctly spelled word:

a) Commitee
b) Committee
c) Commite
d) Commetee

Answer: b) Committee
Explanation: The correct spelling is committee (double “m” + double “t”).

Q2. Pick the word that best fits in the blank:

He did not have the ______ to continue the project.
a) Patience
b) Patients

Answer: a) Patience
Explanation: Patience = tolerance/ability to wait. Patients = people under medical care.

Q3. Choose the correct spelling:

a) Accomodation
b) Acommodation
c) Accommodation
d) Acomodation

Answer: c) Accommodation
Explanation: Correct form has double “c” and double “m”.

Q4. Fill in the blank with correct word:

The book was placed on the top ______ of the cupboard.
a) Self
b) Shelf

Answer: b) Shelf
Explanation: Shelf is correct (a flat storage surface). Self refers to a person’s being.

Q5. Which is correct?

a) Separate
b) Seperate

Answer: a) Separate
Explanation: Many confuse it, but correct spelling is separate with “a” in both syllables.

Q6. Choose the right option:

The patient was taken to the ______ ward.
a) Surgical
b) Surgicle
c) Surgicel
d) Surjical

Answer: a) Surgical
Explanation: Correct adjective from “surgery” is surgical.

Q7. Correct spelling of the word meaning “to succeed in doing something difficult”:

a) Acheive
b) Achieve
c) Acheeve
d) Acheevee

Answer: b) Achieve
Explanation: Achieve has “i” after “ch”.

Q8. Fill the blank with correct usage:

She could not ______ the loud noise outside.
a) Bare
b) Bear

Answer: b) Bear
Explanation: Bear = tolerate, carry. Bare = uncovered.

Q9. Choose the correctly spelled word:

a) Reciept
b) Receipt
c) Receit
d) Receept

Answer: b) Receipt
Explanation: Spelling rule “i before e except after c” → receipt.

Q10. Which word is correctly spelled?

a) Maintainance
b) Maintenance
c) Maintanance
d) Maintinance

Answer: b) Maintenance
Explanation: Derived from “maintain” + “-ance”, but spelling changes to maintenance.

Q11. Choose the correct word:

The farmer used a ______ to cut the crops.
a) Sickle
b) Cycle
c) Sicle
d) Seckle

Answer: a) Sickle
Explanation: Sickle = curved cutting tool, not to be confused with cycle.

Q12. Which is correct?

a) Occurence
b) Occurrence
c) Ocurence
d) Ocurrance

Answer: b) Occurrence
Explanation: Correct spelling has double “c” and double “r”.

Q13. Correct usage in sentence:

She always speaks the ______ truth.
a) Plain
b) Plane

Answer: a) Plain
Explanation: Plain = simple/clear. Plane = aircraft or tool.

Q14. Identify the correct spelling:

a) Enviroment
b) Environment
c) Envirenment
d) Enviornment

Answer: b) Environment
Explanation: The correct word is environment with “n” after “o”.

Q15. Correct option:

The teacher asked the students to maintain ______ in the class.
a) Disciplin
b) Discipline
c) Discpline
d) Discepline

Answer: b) Discipline
Explanation: Correct spelling is discipline, from Latin disciplina.

Q16. Choose the correctly spelled word:

a) Definately
b) Definitely
c) Defanitely
d) Definitly

Answer: b) Definitely
Explanation: Commonly misspelled; correct form has “i” after “n”.

Q17. Fill in the blank with right word:

He gave a detailed ______ of the accident.
a) Accont
b) Acount
c) Account
d) Accaunt

Answer: c) Account
Explanation: Correct spelling = account.

Q18. Choose the correct spelling:

a) Embarras
b) Embarrass
c) Embarass
d) Embaras

Answer: b) Embarrass
Explanation: Correct word has double r and double s.

Q19. Which word fits?

The ______ of India is “Satyameva Jayate.”
a) Motto
b) Moto
c) Mottoe
d) Mottto

Answer: a) Motto
Explanation: Motto (short phrase of belief/principle).

Q20. Correct spelling:

a) Recommend
b) Recomend
c) Reccommend
d) Recomand

Answer: a) Recommend
Explanation: Only one “c” and double “m”.

Set 1 (Q1–Q10)

Q1.

Choose the correctly spelled word:

  1. Accomodation

  2. Accommodation

  3. Acommodation

  4. Accomadation

Answer: 2. Accommodation
Explanation: The correct spelling has double "c" and double "m".

Q2.

Find the wrongly spelled word:

  1. Necessary

  2. Embarras

  3. Government

  4. Separate

Answer: 2. Embarras
Explanation: Correct spelling is Embarrass (double "r" and double "s").

Q3.

Choose the correctly spelled word:

  1. Definately

  2. Definitely

  3. Defanitely

  4. Deffinitely

Answer: 2. Definitely
Explanation: The correct word is Definitely, often misspelled as "Definately".

Q4.

Select the wrongly spelled word:

  1. Existance

  2. Environment

  3. Beautiful

  4. Audience

Answer: 1. Existance
Explanation: Correct spelling is Existence (ending with -ence, not -ance).

Q5.

Choose the correct spelling:

  1. Commitee

  2. Committee

  3. Commettee

  4. Commite

Answer: 2. Committee
Explanation: Correct word has double "m" and double "t".

Q6.

Which of the following is correct?

  1. Athelete

  2. Athlete

  3. Athalete

  4. Athlet

Answer: 2. Athlete
Explanation: The word Athlete has no extra vowel.

Q7.

Identify the wrongly spelled word:

  1. Receive

  2. Believe

  3. Achive

  4. Relieve

Answer: 3. Achive
Explanation: Correct spelling is Achieve ("i before e, except after c" rule).

Q8.

Choose the correct spelling:

  1. Harassment

  2. Harrasment

  3. Harrassment

  4. Harasment

Answer: 1. Harassment
Explanation: Only one "r" after "Ha".

Q9.

Select the wrongly spelled word:

  1. Occassion

  2. Occasion

  3. Occur

  4. Occurred

Answer: 1. Occassion
Explanation: Correct spelling is Occasion (with one "s").

Q10.

Pick the correct spelling:

  1. Priviledge

  2. Privillage

  3. Privilege

  4. Privelage

Answer: 3. Privilege
Explanation: Correct spelling is Privilege, often confused with "i" and "e" placements.

Perfect 👍 Let’s continue with the full 100 questions pack on Spelling & Word Usage.
I’ll give you 10 questions per set (Q–A–Explanation).

Spelling & Word Usage – 100 Important Questions

Set 2 (Q11–Q20)

Q11.

Choose the correctly spelled word:

  1. Supercede

  2. Supersede

  3. Supersceed

  4. Supersaid

Answer: 2. Supersede
Explanation: Correct spelling is Supersede (from Latin sedere = to sit).

Q12.

Identify the wrongly spelled word:

  1. Schedule

  2. Scool

  3. Scholar

  4. Science

Answer: 2. Scool
Explanation: Correct spelling is School.

Q13.

Choose the correctly spelled word:

  1. Maintanance

  2. Maintenance

  3. Maintainance

  4. Maintenanace

Answer: 2. Maintenance
Explanation: Derived from “maintain”, but the spelling is maintenance.

Q14.

Pick the wrongly spelled word:

  1. Argument

  2. Commited

  3. Committed

  4. Government

Answer: 2. Commited
Explanation: Correct spelling is Committed (double “m” and double “t”).

Q15.

Which of the following is correct?

  1. Febuary

  2. February

  3. Febraury

  4. Febbruary

Answer: 2. February
Explanation: The word has an extra ‘r’ after Feb – Feb-ru-ary.

Q16.

Find the correct spelling:

  1. Managable

  2. Manageable

  3. Managible

  4. Managuble

Answer: 2. Manageable
Explanation: Correct spelling is Manage + able → Manageable.

Q17.

Choose the wrongly spelled word:

  1. Occurrence

  2. Occured

  3. Occasion

  4. Offence

Answer: 2. Occured
Explanation: Correct spelling is Occurred (with double “r”).

Q18.

Select the correctly spelled word:

  1. Liaison

  2. Liason

  3. Liasion

  4. Liazin

Answer: 1. Liaison
Explanation: Correct spelling is Liaison, tricky because of “ia” and “ison”.

Q19.

Choose the wrongly spelled word:

  1. Parallel

  2. Parallal

  3. Parameter

  4. Paradise

Answer: 2. Parallal
Explanation: Correct spelling is Parallel.

Q20.

Pick the correct spelling:

  1. Acquaintence

  2. Acquaintance

  3. Acquantance

  4. Aquaintance

Answer: 2. Acquaintance
Explanation: Derived from “acquaint”, so it is acquaint + ance.

Set 3 (Q21–Q30)

Q21.

Choose the correctly spelled word:

  1. Embarrass

  2. Embarass

  3. Embarras

  4. Embaras

Answer: 1. Embarrass
Explanation: The correct spelling is Embarrass (double “r” and double “s”).

Q22.

Identify the wrongly spelled word:

  1. Accomodation

  2. Accommodation

  3. Accompany

  4. Accurate

Answer: 1. Accomodation
Explanation: Correct spelling is Accommodation (double “c” and double “m”).

Q23.

Pick the correct spelling:

  1. Neccessary

  2. Necesary

  3. Necessary

  4. Neccesary

Answer: 3. Necessary
Explanation: Correct spelling is Necessary (one “c” and double “s”).

Q24.

Choose the wrongly spelled word:

  1. Harass

  2. Happening

  3. Humerous

  4. Humble

Answer: 3. Humerous
Explanation: Correct spelling is Humorous.

Q25.

Which is correct?

  1. Definately

  2. Definitely

  3. Definetly

  4. Diffinately

Answer: 2. Definitely
Explanation: Correct spelling is Definitely, from definite.

Q26.

Choose the correctly spelled word:

  1. Bureaucracy

  2. Bureucracy

  3. Burocracy

  4. Bureaucrasy

Answer: 1. Bureaucracy
Explanation: Comes from French “bureau” + “-cracy” (rule).

Q27.

Find the wrongly spelled word:

  1. Mischievous

  2. Mischievious

  3. Mischief

  4. Mission

Answer: 2. Mischievious
Explanation: Correct spelling is Mischievous (not “-vious”).

Q28.

Select the correct spelling:

  1. Millennium

  2. Milennium

  3. Milenium

  4. Millenium

Answer: 1. Millennium
Explanation: Correct spelling has double l and double n: Millennium.

Q29.

Choose the wrongly spelled word:

  1. Restaurant

  2. Restorent

  3. Reception

  4. Recommend

Answer: 2. Restorent
Explanation: Correct spelling is Restaurant.

Q30.

Which is correct?

  1. Priviledge

  2. Prevelige

  3. Privilege

  4. Prevelage

Answer: 3. Privilege
Explanation: Correct spelling is Privilege.

Set 4 (Q31–Q40)

Q31.

Choose the correctly spelled word:

  1. Perserverance

  2. Perseverance

  3. Perseverence

  4. Persiverance

Answer: 2. Perseverance
Explanation: Correct spelling is Perseverance (derived from persevere = continue despite difficulty).

Q32.

Find the wrongly spelled word:

  1. Questionnaire

  2. Quotation

  3. Questionair

  4. Quality

Answer: 3. Questionair
Explanation: Correct spelling is Questionnaire (double “n”, ends with “-aire”).

Q33.

Choose the correct spelling:

  1. Athelete

  2. Athlete

  3. Athalete

  4. Athleet

Answer: 2. Athlete
Explanation: Correct spelling is Athlete (two syllables: ath–lete).

Q34.

Identify the wrongly spelled word:

  1. Genuine

  2. Genuiene

  3. Genius

  4. General

Answer: 2. Genuiene
Explanation: Correct spelling is Genuine (not “genuiene”).

Q35.

Pick the correct spelling:

  1. Entrepreneur

  2. Enterpreneur

  3. Entropreneur

  4. Entrepraneur

Answer: 1. Entrepreneur
Explanation: Correct spelling is Entrepreneur, borrowed from French.

Q36.

Choose the wrongly spelled word:

  1. Government

  2. Govenment

  3. Governance

  4. Governor

Answer: 2. Govenment
Explanation: Correct spelling is Government (with “rn” in middle).

Q37.

Which is correct?

  1. Pronounciation

  2. Pronunciation

  3. Pronunciaton

  4. Pronounciaton

Answer: 2. Pronunciation
Explanation: Correct spelling is Pronunciation (from “pronounce,” but without “ou” in the middle).

Q38.

Choose the correctly spelled word:

  1. Recommend

  2. Recomend

  3. Reccommend

  4. Recommmend

Answer: 1. Recommend
Explanation: Correct spelling is Recommend (one “c” and double “m”).

Q39.

Find the wrongly spelled word:

  1. Separate

  2. Seperate

  3. Separation

  4. Separator

Answer: 2. Seperate
Explanation: Correct spelling is Separate (a not e after “p”).

Q40.

Choose the correct spelling:

  1. Connoisseur

  2. Connoiseur

  3. Conoisser

  4. Conoisseur

Answer: 1. Connoisseur
Explanation: Correct spelling is Connoisseur, meaning “expert judge,” borrowed from French.

Related Links

S.noFormulas List
1.Error Spotting Questions for English
2.Sentence Improvement & Correction
3.Fill in the Blanks for English
4.Cloze Test for English
5.Synonyms and Antonyms for English
6.Idioms and Phrases for English
7.One-Word Substitution for English
8.Para Jumbles / Sentence Rearrangement for English
9.Reading Comprehension for English
10.Spelling & Word Usage for English