Select the correct spelling for a word meaning 'an internal split or division'.

Correct — B. The word for 'an internal split or division' is schism, spelt s-c-h-i-s-m.

The sch- comes from Greek skhisma, 'a split', from skhizein, 'to split'. The same Greek root gives schizophrenia, which keeps the same sch- → option (b).

Why the others are wrong

• (a)
  Shism — Shism drops the c. Some speakers do say the word with an sh sound, but the spelling follows the Greek skhisma, which fixes sch-, whatever the sound.
• (c)
  Scism — Scism drops the h. The Greek skh- comes into English as all three letters, sch-, as in schizophrenia.
• (d)
  Shcism — Shcism puts the letters in the wrong order, shc-. The cluster is s-c-h, the same order as in school and scheme.

This item gives a meaning and asks for the spelling, so it tests two things: knowing the word and knowing its letters.

Schism belongs to a family of English words that keep the Greek sch- spelling: school, scheme, schizophrenia. The spelling holds whether schism is said 'sizm', 'skizm' or 'shizm'.

The definition, an internal split, is the word's core sense. In religion a schism is a formal split within a church; in politics, a split within a party or movement.

Key facts

• Schism: a split or division between opposed groups, especially within a church.
• Schism comes from Greek skhisma, 'a split', from skhizein, 'to split'.
• Schizophrenia shares the Greek root skhizein.
• The adjective is schismatic.

Common traps

• Writing sh because the word can be said with an sh sound. The spelling follows the Greek sch-, not the pronunciation.
• Remembering that there is an h but not where it goes, which produces shc-.

No directly related past PYQ was found.