Proverbs and Correct Spelling
Proverbs and Correct Spelling
This topic supplies two questions across its two halves. Proverbs are complete sentences that convey a lesson, and in spelling the task is to identify which of the given forms is the correct one. In both halves, haste is the single biggest cause of error.
Major Proverbs
| Proverb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| नाच न जाने आँगन टेढ़ा | to blame circumstances for one's own failure |
| अंधों में काना राजा | the slightly able among the wholly unable |
| ऊँट के मुँह में जीरा | far too little for the need |
| दूर के ढोल सुहावने | distant things appear attractive |
| अपनी करनी पार उतरनी | one reaps the fruit of one's own deeds |
| एक अनार सौ बीमार | few goods and many claimants |
Keep the distinction in mind — a proverb is a complete sentence in itself and gives a lesson, whereas an idiom is a phrase and yields its meaning only after joining a sentence.
✗ नौ दो ग्यारह होना is a proverb | ✓ It is an idiom; a proverb is a complete sentence and conveys a lesson
Common Spelling Errors
| Wrong | Correct | Wrong | Correct |
|---|---|---|---|
| अनुगृह | अनुग्रह | आर्शीवाद | आशीर्वाद |
| उज्जवल | उज्ज्वल | परिक्षा | परीक्षा |
| श्रृंगार | शृंगार | पुज्य | पूज्य |
| सम्मान्य | सम्माननीय | ब्राम्हण | ब्राह्मण |
| निरिक्षण | निरीक्षण | अहिल्या | अहल्या |
The three words written wrongly most often are आशीर्वाद, उज्ज्वल and शृंगार. Note that शृंगार takes ऋ under श and not श्र — a difference the options place there deliberately.
Rules Worth Noting
- परीक्षा, निरीक्षण and समीक्षा all take the long ई.
- अनुग्रह, विग्रह and परिग्रह contain ग्रह, not गृह.
- ब्राह्मण has ह्म, not म्ह.
- उज्ज्वल has ज्ज्व, not ज्जव.
आसान जाँच: शब्द को धीरे-धीरे बोलकर देखिए कि कौन-सी ध्वनि लंबी है और कौन-सी छोटी। परीक्षा में ई दीर्घ है, इसलिए वह परिक्षा नहीं हो सकता।
TRE pointer: The difference between an idiom and a proverb is asked almost every year — a proverb is a full sentence, an idiom a phrase. In spelling, आशीर्वाद, उज्ज्वल, शृंगार and ब्राह्मण are the four surest words. In a teacher recruitment paper correct spelling carries extra weight, because it is used directly in the classroom.
60-Second Recap
- A proverb is a complete sentence and gives a lesson; an idiom is a phrase.
- नाच न जाने आँगन टेढ़ा means blaming circumstances for one's own failure.
- ऊँट के मुँह में जीरा means far too little for the need.
- The correct forms are आशीर्वाद, उज्ज्वल, शृंगार and ब्राह्मण.
- परीक्षा, निरीक्षण and समीक्षा take the long ई.
- अनुग्रह contains ग्रह, not गृह.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a proverb recognised?
It is a complete sentence in itself, expresses an experience or a lesson, and does not need to be fitted into another sentence. नाच न जाने आँगन टेढ़ा and अंधों में काना राजा are examples. An idiom, by contrast, remains an incomplete phrase until it is placed in a sentence.
What is the correct spelling of शृंगार?
शृंगार, with the ऋ mark placed under श. Writing श्रृंगार is wrong, because that brings in both श्र and ऋ together. Both forms are usually placed among the options, so this one should be settled well before the examination.
What is the difference between अनुग्रह and गृह?
अनुग्रह contains ग्रह, which relates to receiving, and the whole word means grace or favour. गृह is a different word altogether and means a house. For this reason अनुगृह is treated as a misspelling, and the distinction is asked directly.
How can spelling errors be avoided in the exam?
Say the word slowly and check which sound is long and which is short, then strike out the options one by one. परीक्षा, निरीक्षण and समीक्षा all carry the long ई, so any option with the short इ can be removed at once. This method settles most questions in this area.