Spot the misspelled word about Frank and learn the correct spelling of courageous.

A tiny misspelling with big implications — a little guide to reading and writing with sharper eyes

We’ve all read a sentence where one stray letter makes you pause. It’s almost charming at first, then a touch unnerving, like an out-of-tocus note in a song. In everyday writing, a single wrong letter doesn’t just change a word; it can bend a reader’s confidence, slow understanding, or spark a second-guess about the author’s care. That’s precisely why spelling details matter, especially in tasks that mimic real-world writing challenges, such as PACT-style writing items. They’re not only about vocabulary; they’re about precision, clarity, and the tiny habits that make your writing sing.

Let’s look at a concrete example you might encounter in those sorts of tasks. Imagine this prompt:

What spelling mistake is found in the sentence about Frank? A. couragous B. firefighter C. courageous D. lives

If you’re taking a careful read, you’ll notice that the word “couragous” is the odd one out. The remaining words—“firefighter” and “lives”—are correctly spelled, and “courageous” is the proper spelling of the adjective meaning brave. The correct choice, in this case, is A: couragous. The sentence about Frank contains a spelling error, and that error is the word couragous.

A quick unpacking of the words helps. The root of the confusion is how we form adjectives from the noun “courage.” The standard spelling adds an e before the -ous ending, producing courageous. When the e slips out and you get couragous, the word still looks plausible at a glance, which is why it often slips by in casual writing. But in careful reading, the missing e is as obvious as a misplaced comma in a formal sentence. That tiny omission isn’t just a typography issue; it signals a break in the writer’s linear train of thought. The reader has to do a mini-digilike check to confirm the spelling, which interrupts flow.

Now, to keep this in perspective: spelling mistakes happen to everyone. They’re not a moral failing; they’re a signal that your eyes, like a camera lens, sometimes need a cleaner focus. In a testing or real-world context, catching them is a skill you can sharpen. Let me explain what’s at stake and how to train that eye so you can move through passages with more ease.

Why tiny typos matter (even when the meaning is clear)

• Clarity is why we write in the first place. A misspelled word can momentarily distract a reader, slowing comprehension or nudging them to wonder about the rest of the sentence’s accuracy.

• Trust is a factor. People tend to trust text that looks polished. A sprinkle of careful spelling invites confidence; a stray misspelling can plant a seed of doubt about the entire piece, even if the rest is flawless.

• Precision matters in communication. Words aren’t merely vessels of meaning; they’re the vessels that carry tone. A wrong letter can subtly shift tone from careful to sloppy, even if the reader can infer the intended meaning.

That last point is a good segue into a broader idea: how to approach similar questions in PACT-style writing tasks without getting stuck on one error. The goal isn’t to memorize every tricky word but to train your instinct for patterns and to build a reliable, repeatable check process.

Tips to spot spelling mistakes without losing the plot

• Start with the root and the endings. If a word looks like a common base plus a familiar suffix but still seems off, pause. Does courage + ous really become courageous, not couragous? In English, many adjectives ending in -ous follow a predictable formation: root + e + ous. If the e is missing, you’re looking at a likely misspelling.

• Check pairs and triplets that often trip readers up. In this example, the pair “courage” and “courageous” is a typical neighborhood for mistakes. The root is solid and familiar; the ending -ous is common, but the little insertion of e changes everything.

• Read aloud and listen for rhythm. Sometimes a mis-spelled word doesn’t trip your eyes right away, but when you say it, the sound or stress feels off. That tension is a cue to recheck the spelling.

• Use quick dictionary checks when uncertain. A quick peek at a trusted resource—Merriam-Webster, Collins, or the Cambridge dictionary—confirms the standard spelling and helps you internalize the pattern for next time.

• Employ a two-pass proofreading habit. First pass for meaning and flow; second pass for mechanics like spelling, punctuation, and capitalization. The second pass often catches those “almost-right” words.

• Leverage digital tools, but don’t rely on them completely. Spell-checkers catch many misses, but they can miss context or mis-correct proper nouns. Treat tools as assistants, not authorities.

• Build a little mental cheat sheet. Note a handful of words that give you trouble in your writing and keep them handy. Repetition becomes recall; recall becomes automatic.

How this relates to PACT-style writing tasks (without turning it into a test prep lecture)

In tasks that resemble real-world writing challenges, you’re often asked to judge sentences for correctness, tone, or clarity. Spelling accuracy sits at the core of that evaluation. When you’re choosing among options like couragous, firefighter, courageous, lives, you’re testing not only vocabulary knowledge but also attention to detail, pattern recognition, and writing discipline. The best outcomes come from a calm, methodical approach: verify the pattern (root + suffix), check for a missing letter, and move on with a clear rationale.

A small digression that ties the thread together: how many of us rely on autocorrect to fix small slips in casual messages? It’s a handy friend most days, but it can lull you into trusting the wrong things. The same caution applies to any formal or semi-formal writing scenario. If you rely too heavily on automated helpers, you miss the chance to drill your own eye for detail. The sweet spot is using tools to support your accuracy while still practicing manual checks that train your brain to notice—before the cursor even blinks.

Real-world habits that elevate your writing (and your test-like reasoning)

• Keep a personal glossary of tricky spellings. If you tend to miss the e before -ous in courage-related words, write down a short rule or a reminder next to the word. Soon enough, the pattern becomes part of your mental editor.

• Practice with mini-challenges. Create sentences using words that commonly confuse you, then verify the spelling and the sentence rhythm by reading aloud. It’s like a tiny rehearsal for bigger writing moments.

• Embrace the idea that precision is stylish. In professional writing, a well-spelled sentence can carry weight, credibility, and a touch of polish. You don’t need to sound stiff to be precise. Clarity can be both warm and exact.

• Read a lot and out loud. Exposure to well-edited prose helps you internalize standard spellings and word shapes. When you see a word enough times, you won’t forget its correct form.

• Build a quick-reflection ritual after writing. Ask yourself: Did every word earn its keep? Were there places where a misspelling might sneak in? A short post-writing check can become a reliable habit.

What this means for the broader idea of “writing tasks” you’ll encounter

In many real-world contexts—from emails to reports to content briefs—the same rule applies: concise, correct spelling reinforces credibility and clarity. You don’t need to be a lexicon wizard to succeed; you need a reliable method and a habit of double-checking. The ability to spot a misspelled word quickly isn’t just a neat skill; it’s a signal that you care about how your message lands with the reader.

A friendly wrap-up, with a practical takeaway

So, when you see a line like the one about Frank and the options A through D, take a moment to test the spelling with your inner editor. couragous stands out as the spelling mistake, and courageous is the correctly formed word that should be in the reader’s mental library. The exercise isn’t just about identifying the wrong letter; it’s a reminder that small details shape big impressions. In a world loaded with messages, the sentence that glides along clearly and correctly earns the reader’s trust.

If you want to sharpen this skill further, here are a few grounded, beginner-friendly resources you’ll find useful without turning the learning into a chore:

• A reliable dictionary app on your phone for quick checks on the go

• A basic grammar and style guide to review common word formations and suffix rules

• A couple of spelling-focused exercises you can work through in short bursts

• An online writing platform with a built-in spell checker and real-time feedback, to see how your text holds up under scrutiny

And, just to circle back to the heart of the matter: one small misspelling, one moment of hesitation, and one crisp instance of proofreading can change how a reader experiences your entire sentence. That’s a hopeful reminder: accuracy is a skill you can develop, one carefully chosen word at a time. The better you get at spotting those tiny missteps, the smoother your writing will feel—whether you’re drafting a quick email, polishing a report, or navigating a PACT-style task with a keen eye for language.

If you’re curious about language patterns, this kind of attention can spill over into other areas you care about—tone, style, and the way ideas are organized. The result isn’t just better spelling; it’s more confident, more readable writing that earns a reader’s trust from the first line to the last. And that’s a payoff worth chasing, isn’t it?