Choose the correct one-word substitute for: 'Fear of public speaking.'

Correct — A. Every option ends in -phobia, so the root decides.

Gloss- is from Greek glossa, 'tongue', the root of glossary. The tongue stands for speech, so glossophobia is the fear of public speaking → option (a).

Why the others are wrong

• (b)
  Sociophobia — Sociophobia is built on socio-, 'society': a fear of social situations or of people in general. Public speaking may be one such situation, but the word does not name it.
• (c)
  Anthophobia — Anthophobia is the fear of flowers, from Greek anthos, 'flower', the root of anthology.
• (d)
  Ergophobia — Ergophobia is the fear of work, from Greek ergon, 'work', the root of ergonomics.

Phobia words join a root to -phobia, from Greek phobos, 'fear'. Since the ending is shared, the root carries the meaning.

Learn the root and you can decode a phobia you have never met: gloss- tongue, socio- society, antho- flower, ergo- work.

The same roots show up in ordinary words: glossary, sociology, anthology, ergonomics.

Key facts

• Glossophobia is the fear of public speaking, from Greek glossa, 'tongue'.
• Anthophobia is the fear of flowers, from Greek anthos, 'flower'.
• Ergophobia is the fear of work, from Greek ergon, 'work'.
• The ending -phobia comes from Greek phobos, 'fear'.

Common traps

• Choosing Sociophobia because public speaking happens in front of people, when the phrase names one specific fear
• Confusing antho- (flower) with anthropo- (human), as in anthropology

No directly related past PYQ was found.