Identify the misspelled word from the given options?

Appeared in: AIIMS Bhuvneshwar NO- 2018

Explanation

The word 'Ilegible' is misspelled.
The correct spelling is 'illegible', with a double 'l'.
This follows the English grammar rule of prefix assimilation, where the negative prefix 'in-' becomes 'il-' when placed before a root word starting with 'l'.

Option A: The word 'Unacceptable' is spelled correctly. It correctly uses the prefix 'un-' to negate the word 'acceptable'.
Option C: The word 'Immaculate' is spelled correctly. It follows the prefix assimilation rule where 'in-' becomes 'im-' before a root word starting with 'm'.
Option D: The word 'Irreversible' is spelled correctly. It follows the prefix assimilation rule where 'in-' becomes 'ir-' before a root word starting with 'r'.

Visual 1: Infographic: A chart showing the rules of prefix assimilation for 'in-', 'il-', 'im-', and 'ir-' with clear examples for each.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain English vocabulary and spelling rules for prefixes as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Clear and legible documentation is a cornerstone of patient safety. Illegible handwriting can lead to medication errors, which are a major source of preventable harm in hospitals.
As a nurse, you have a professional and ethical responsibility to ensure your documentation is readable and to clarify any order that is ambiguous or illegible to prevent errors.
What if? If a nurse cannot read a doctor's handwritten order for 'Isordil 10mg' and misreads it as 'Plendil 10mg', they could administer the wrong medication, leading to ineffective treatment for angina and potential adverse effects from the wrong drug. The correct action is to always call the prescriber for clarification.

How to Approach the Question

Read the question carefully: The task is to find the one misspelled word out of four options.
Examine each option individually for spelling accuracy.
Pay close attention to common sources of spelling errors, such as prefixes, suffixes, and double letters.
For 'Ilegible', recognize that negative prefixes often change. The prefix 'in-' becomes 'il-' before 'l', requiring a double 'l' ('illegible').
Verify the other words: 'Unacceptable', 'Immaculate', and 'Irreversible' all follow standard prefix rules and are spelled correctly.
Conclude that 'Ilegible' is the misspelled word.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full AIIMS Bhuvneshwar NO- 2018

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