GED Reasoning Through Language ArtsLanguage Conventions and UsageEasy
A journalist is proofreading an article about a new scientific discovery. Which sentence contains a spelling error?
- AThe scientists recieved an award for their groundbreaking research.
- BThe experiment yielded significant and reproducible results.
- CFurther research will undoubtedly confirm their findings.
- DTheir theory was widely accepted by the scientific community.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. The scientists recieved an award for their groundbreaking research.
The word 'recieved' is misspelled. The correct spelling is 'received', following the 'i before e, except after c' rule.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. All words in this sentence are spelled correctly.
- C. All words in this sentence are spelled correctly.
- D. All words in this sentence are spelled correctly.
Spelling: 'i before e'
The common spelling rule is 'i before e, except after c, or when sounded as 'ay' as in neighbor and weigh.'
- Rule applies to many English words
- Many exceptions exist (e.g., seize, weird, protein)
- Focus on common misspellings
Memory trick: Spelling rules are tricky, but 'i before e' is a key.