Instruction or Instruction – Which is Correct?
So, you’re sitting there with your pen in hand, ready to write that all-important essay. You’ve read through the assignment, but something doesn’t quite add up. Is it ‘intruction’ or ‘instruction’? You scratch your head, wondering which is correct. Well, worry no more! and an IELTS tutor, I am here to demystify this linguistic dilemma for you.
The correct word is ‘instruction.’ Yes, you heard that right! ‘Instruction’ is the proper spelling, and here’s why. Let’s start by breaking down the word itself.
The word ‘instruction’ is a noun that refers to the act or process of teaching or giving directions. It can also mean a set of rules or guidelines to follow. When we break it down even further, we can see that ‘instruction’ is made up of two parts: ‘in-‘ and ‘struction’.
The prefix ‘in-‘ means ‘not,’ ‘opposite of,’ or ‘lacking.’ You may be familiar with other words that begin with this prefix, such as ‘inactive,’ ‘incomplete,’ or ‘inaccurate’. These words all convey a sense of not being active, whole, or correct. Now, let’s move on to the root word, ‘struction’.
The root word ‘struction’ comes from the Latin verb ‘struere’, which means ‘to build’. You may have encountered this root word in other forms, such as ‘construct’, ‘structure’, or ‘destruction’. All these words are derived from the idea of building or putting together.
Now, let’s play with the idea of ‘intructions’ for a moment. If ‘instrutions’ were a word, it would imply that something is not built or put together, or even lacking in structure. Imagine trying to assemble a piece of furniture without any ‘instrutions’ – it would be a frustrating and confusing experience, wouldn’t it?
To further reinforce the correctness of ‘instruction,’ let’s consider some examples of its usage. When you’re at school, your teachers give you ‘instructions’ on how to complete an assignment. If you’re learning to drive, your instructor will provide you with ‘instructions’ on how to operate a vehicle. In a workplace, your boss may give you ‘instructions’ on how to complete a task. In each of these examples, we can see that ‘instruction’ is the correct and commonly used spelling.
But I can hear the question lingering in your mind – aren’t there other words that follow a similar pattern as ‘intruction’? Indeed, there are words like ‘introduction’ or ‘intrusive’ that have the same prefix, but it’s important to remember that language is complex, and not all words follow the same patterns. ‘Instruction’ simply isn’t one of those words that drop the ‘s’.
To sum it up, ‘instruction’ is the correct spelling. Remember, it is the noun referring to the act of teaching or giving directions, and it derives from the Latin root ‘struere’, meaning ‘to build’. So, the next time you find yourself pondering over ‘intruction’ or ‘instruction,’ you can confidently choose ‘instruction’ – because without proper instructions, even the simplest tasks can become daunting.