Choose the correct spelling from the options given.

2020

Choose the correct spelling from the options given.

  1. A.

    repetition

  2. B.

    reparticion

  3. C.

    repatision

  4. D.

    repeatition

Attempted by 4 students.

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A

Concept: When a Latin/French-origin verb forms its related noun using a suffix such as "-tion", "-ition", "-ision" or "-sion", these suffix families are not interchangeable, and the noun does not always keep every vowel of its base verb unchanged. The safest way to judge a spelling option is to compare it, syllable by syllable, against the word's standard dictionary form rather than sounding it out.

Applying it here: the noun meaning "the act of doing or saying something again" is built as re- + pet- + "-ition" -- a single "e" in the middle syllable, no "a", and the ending "-ition" -- giving the standard dictionary spelling "repetition".

Comparing the options:

  • "reparticion" inserts an extra "r" and the syllable "-arti-", then closes with the Spanish-style ending "-cion" (as in the unrelated Spanish word "repartición") -- a syllable and ending pattern that doesn't belong to this English noun.

  • "repatision" swaps in the syllable "-pati-" and the ending "-ision", the suffix family used in words like "decision" and "division" -- not the "-ition" pattern this noun actually takes.

  • "repeatition" keeps the "-eat-" spelling from the base verb "repeat" and doubles the vowel, adding an extra "a" and a repeated "e" that the noun form does not carry.

Result: comparing all four forms against the standard dictionary spelling, only "repetition" matches -- the other three each alter a syllable or suffix that doesn't belong to this word.

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