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Free SSC English lesson

SSC English Spelling

Notice the letters. Recall the whole word.

English spelling cannot always be predicted from pronunciation. Learn the complete word, notice the exact point you tend to confuse, and practise recalling it without looking. This lesson avoids questions where two accepted regional variants would compete.

Foundation to intermediate12 original questions20–25 minutes suggested study time

Learn the methodGo to practice

Build the skill

What you will learn

  • Recognise the standard spellings of 12 useful words.
  • Notice doubled consonants, vowel choices and endings.
  • Recall each word in a natural sentence.

Read and understand

Connect the word with its meaning and a simple example.

Find the difficult part

Mark the letter group you are most likely to omit or change.

Cover and recall

Write the whole word from memory, then compare it letter by letter.

Return later

Practise again after a gap instead of copying the word many times at once.

Understand before you answer

Learn words with their contrasts

Sound is a clue, not a complete spelling rule

A spoken syllable may not reveal every written letter. Use a dictionary to check the spelling rather than inventing a spelling from sound alone.

Word pairpronounce → pronunciation

Remember: A related word can help, but some letters change.

Look for the exact error

When two options differ by one letter, compare the location and number of letters. An option may add a letter as easily as omit one.

Checkaccommodate contains two c letters and two m letters.

Remember: Count the letters in the difficult group, then read the complete word.

Recognise accepted variation

British and American English sometimes allow different spellings, such as colour and color. Do not treat one accepted form as a universal error.

VariationLearn which variety a specific exercise requires.

Remember: The practice options below use clear misspellings, not competing accepted regional variants.

Open the 12-word bank with examples

accommodate verb

To provide room for someone or something.

In a sentenceThe hall can accommodate eighty visitors.

Remember both double groups: cc and mm.

committee noun

A group chosen to carry out a particular task.

In a sentenceA committee reviewed the safety plan.

The spelling contains mm, tt and ee.

occurrence noun

An event or an instance of something happening.

In a sentenceThe technician recorded each occurrence of the fault.

Remember cc, rr and the ending -ence.

questionnaire noun

A set of questions used to collect information.

In a sentenceVisitors completed a short questionnaire.

Keep question, then the ending -naire; the two parts meet at nn.

maintenance noun

Work done to keep something in good condition.

In a sentenceThe lift is closed for routine maintenance.

The noun is maintenance, not maintainance.

pronunciation noun

The way in which a word is spoken.

In a sentenceThe teacher modelled the pronunciation of the word.

The noun has pronun-, even though the verb is pronounce.

perseverance noun

Continued effort despite difficulty or delay.

In a sentenceHer perseverance helped her complete the long course.

Remember persevere as a related verb, but the noun ends in -ance.

indispensable adjective

So necessary that it cannot reasonably be done without.

In a sentenceThe checklist became indispensable to the inspection team.

The ending is -able, not -ible.

privilege noun

A special right, advantage or benefit.

In a sentenceAccess to the archive was a privilege granted to researchers.

Keep privi- and the ending -lege.

separate adjective

Not joined or combined with something else.

In a sentenceKeep a separate copy of the receipt.

The middle has a: sep-a-rate.

embarrass verb

To make someone feel awkward or self-conscious.

In a sentenceThe host did not want to embarrass the new speaker.

Remember double r and double s.

rhythm noun

A regular pattern of beats or movements.

In a sentenceThe drummer kept a steady rhythm.

Track the order r-h-y-t-h-m.

See the reasoning

Two worked examples

Example 1

Choose the correct spelling: definite / definate / deffinite / definit.

Answerdefinite

Definite has i after the f, a single f and a final e. Definate changes that i to a; deffinite adds an f; definit omits the final e.

Example 2

Choose the correct spelling: recommend / reccommend / recomend / recommmend.

Answerrecommend

Recommend has one c and two m letters. Reccommend adds a c; recomend omits an m; recommmend has three m letters.

Try it yourself

12 questions, with every choice explained

Choose the correctly spelt word that completes each sentence. Every item has one standard correct spelling; the other three options contain specific letter errors.

Write down A, B, C or D before opening each answer. Work at your own pace. These exercises use no exam timer or negative marking.

Question 1 · Correct spelling

The hall can ___ eighty visitors. Choose the correctly spelt word.

  1. A.acommodate
  2. B.accomodate
  3. C.accommodate
  4. D.accommmodate
Show answer and explanations for question 1

Answer C: accommodate

Completed textThe hall can accommodate eighty visitors.
  1. Not correct. This form has only one c; accommodate needs cc.
  2. Not correct. This form has only one m; accommodate needs mm.
  3. Correct. The standard spelling is accommodate. Remember both double groups: cc and mm.
  4. Not correct. This form has three m letters; the correct spelling has two.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 2 · Correct spelling

A ___ reviewed the safety plan. Choose the correctly spelt word.

  1. A.committee
  2. B.commitee
  3. C.comittee
  4. D.committe
Show answer and explanations for question 2

Answer A: committee

Completed textA committee reviewed the safety plan.
  1. Correct. The standard spelling is committee. The spelling contains mm, tt and ee.
  2. Not correct. This form has only one t; committee needs tt.
  3. Not correct. This form has only one m; committee needs mm.
  4. Not correct. This form is missing the second final e.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 3 · Correct spelling

The technician recorded each ___ of the fault. Choose the correctly spelt word.

  1. A.occurrance
  2. B.occurence
  3. C.ocurrence
  4. D.occurrence
Show answer and explanations for question 3

Answer D: occurrence

Completed textThe technician recorded each occurrence of the fault.
  1. Not correct. The ending is -ence, not -ance.
  2. Not correct. This form has only one r; occurrence needs rr.
  3. Not correct. This form has only one c; occurrence needs cc.
  4. Correct. The standard spelling is occurrence. Remember cc, rr and the ending -ence.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 4 · Correct spelling

Visitors completed a short ___. Choose the correctly spelt word.

  1. A.questionaire
  2. B.questionnaire
  3. C.questionnair
  4. D.questtionnaire
Show answer and explanations for question 4

Answer B: questionnaire

Completed textVisitors completed a short questionnaire.
  1. Not correct. This form has only one n at the join; questionnaire has nn.
  2. Correct. The standard spelling is questionnaire. Keep question, then the ending -naire; the two parts meet at nn.
  3. Not correct. This form omits the final e.
  4. Not correct. This form adds an extra t; question has only one t.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 5 · Correct spelling

The lift is closed for routine ___. Choose the correctly spelt word.

  1. A.maintenance
  2. B.maintainance
  3. C.maintenence
  4. D.maintenace
Show answer and explanations for question 5

Answer A: maintenance

Completed textThe lift is closed for routine maintenance.
  1. Correct. The standard spelling is maintenance. The noun is maintenance, not maintainance.
  2. Not correct. The noun uses mainten-, not maintain-, before -ance.
  3. Not correct. The final part is -ance, not -ence.
  4. Not correct. This form omits the n before the final c.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 6 · Correct spelling

The teacher modelled the ___ of the word. Choose the correctly spelt word.

  1. A.pronuncation
  2. B.pronounciation
  3. C.pronunciation
  4. D.pronunciacion
Show answer and explanations for question 6

Answer C: pronunciation

Completed textThe teacher modelled the pronunciation of the word.
  1. Not correct. This form omits the i before the a in -ciation.
  2. Not correct. The noun does not keep the ou of pronounce; it begins pronun-.
  3. Correct. The standard spelling is pronunciation. The noun has pronun-, even though the verb is pronounce.
  4. Not correct. The ending uses t in -tion, not a second c.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 7 · Correct spelling

Her ___ helped her complete the long course. Choose the correctly spelt word.

  1. A.perseverence
  2. B.perseverance
  3. C.perserverance
  4. D.perseveranse
Show answer and explanations for question 7

Answer B: perseverance

Completed textHer perseverance helped her complete the long course.
  1. Not correct. The noun ends in -ance, not -ence.
  2. Correct. The standard spelling is perseverance. Remember persevere as a related verb, but the noun ends in -ance.
  3. Not correct. This form adds an r after perse; the opening is perse-.
  4. Not correct. The final sound is written -ance, not -anse.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 8 · Correct spelling

The checklist became ___ to the inspection team. Choose the correctly spelt word.

  1. A.indispensablle
  2. B.indispensible
  3. C.indespensable
  4. D.indispensable
Show answer and explanations for question 8

Answer D: indispensable

Completed textThe checklist became indispensable to the inspection team.
  1. Not correct. This form has an extra l near the end.
  2. Not correct. The ending is -able, not -ible.
  3. Not correct. The opening is indis-, not indes-.
  4. Correct. The standard spelling is indispensable. The ending is -able, not -ible.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 9 · Correct spelling

Access to the archive was a ___ granted to researchers. Choose the correctly spelt word.

  1. A.privilage
  2. B.priviledge
  3. C.privilege
  4. D.privelege
Show answer and explanations for question 9

Answer C: privilege

Completed textAccess to the archive was a privilege granted to researchers.
  1. Not correct. The ending is -lege, not -lage.
  2. Not correct. Privilege has no d before the g.
  3. Correct. The standard spelling is privilege. Keep privi- and the ending -lege.
  4. Not correct. The second vowel is i: privi-, not prive-.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 10 · Correct spelling

Keep a ___ copy of the receipt. Choose the correctly spelt word.

  1. A.seperate
  2. B.separate
  3. C.separrate
  4. D.separat
Show answer and explanations for question 10

Answer B: separate

Completed textKeep a separate copy of the receipt.
  1. Not correct. The vowel after sep is a, not e.
  2. Correct. The standard spelling is separate. The middle has a: sep-a-rate.
  3. Not correct. This form adds an extra r.
  4. Not correct. This form omits the final e.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 11 · Correct spelling

The host did not want to ___ the new speaker. Choose the correctly spelt word.

  1. A.embarrasss
  2. B.embarass
  3. C.embarras
  4. D.embarrass
Show answer and explanations for question 11

Answer D: embarrass

Completed textThe host did not want to embarrass the new speaker.
  1. Not correct. This form has three final s letters; the correct spelling has two.
  2. Not correct. This form has only one r; embarrass needs rr.
  3. Not correct. This form has only one final s; embarrass needs ss.
  4. Correct. The standard spelling is embarrass. Remember double r and double s.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 12 · Correct spelling

The drummer kept a steady ___. Choose the correctly spelt word.

  1. A.rhythm
  2. B.rythm
  3. C.rhythym
  4. D.rhytm
Show answer and explanations for question 12

Answer A: rhythm

Completed textThe drummer kept a steady rhythm.
  1. Correct. The standard spelling is rhythm. Track the order r-h-y-t-h-m.
  2. Not correct. This form omits the first h, between r and y.
  3. Not correct. This form adds a second y before the final m.
  4. Not correct. This form omits the h between t and m.
Review the method ↑Review your learning ↓

Make the learning stick

Review what changed your answer

  1. Record the exact letter you changed or omitted, not only the word you missed.
  2. Write one fresh sentence with each of three difficult words.
  3. Cover the word bank and test yourself again tomorrow.

Keep a simple note: question number → your reason → the correct rule or evidence → one new example. A mistake is useful when you can explain the correction.

SSC English hub →SSC English Sentence and Paragraph Ordering →SSC English Fill in the Blanks →Synonyms and antonyms →

Original ESS learning material. Not official SSC questions or a previous-year paper. ESS is independent of SSC. These are untimed skill lessons, not full exam simulations.

References and exam scope

Scope: CGL 2026 Tier-II, Paper-I, Section-II; CHSL 2026 Tier-I and Tier-II English. These are topic lessons, not complete mocks. These topics are included in the linked SSC examination notices. The lesson wording, examples, passages and questions are original ESS teaching material. Check your exam’s current notice and subsequent corrections for its full syllabus, scoring and timing.

Sources reviewed: 3 November 2026. Study-time estimates are suggestions, not official exam limits.