Basic Details
Word: Preparation
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: The work of getting something or yourself ready.
Synonyms: readiness, planning, groundwork
How to Spell Preparation
Syllables: prep - a - ra - tion
Tricky part: The vowel after prep is a, not e. Because it sounds like prep-uh, many students write preperation.
Watch out for: preperation, preparasion, prepration
Memory tip: Find par in the middle: pre-PAR-ation. Prepare loses its e and takes ation, and par keeps the a safe.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Weeks of preparation went into the school's annual day.
Example 2: The cook began the preparation of the wedding feast at dawn.
Example 3: Good preparation is the secret to staying calm in an exam.
Fun Fact
As part of their preparation, astronauts rehearse spacewalks in a giant swimming pool, because floating in water feels a little like weightlessness.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to complete the word:
prep_r_tion
a) e, e
b) a, e
c) a, a
d) e, a
Show answer
c) a, a. Prepare gives the first a, and ation brings the second.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
The team's taarpinoerp for the final included early morning runs.
a) perspiration
b) reparation
c) preparation
d) separation
Show answer
c) preparation. The jumble has two p's and no s: reparation has only one p, while separation and perspiration both need an s.
Spell-o-Spell
Read the four words. Choose the meaning of the only correctly spelt word:
1. performence 2. audiance 3. preparation 4. rehersal
a) a practice of a play or concert before the real show
b) the act of presenting a play, music or dance
c) the work of getting ready for something
d) the people who watch or listen to a show
Show answer
c) the work of getting ready for something. Rehearsal has ea, performance ends in ance and audience ends in ence.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. The phrase in preparation for means ____.
a) a long time after
b) because of a mistake in
c) in order to get ready for
d) instead of doing
Show answer
c) in order to get ready for
2. Which of these is a good preparation for a long trek?
a) wearing new tight shoes
b) skipping breakfast
c) leaving the map at home
d) packing water and snacks
Show answer
d) packing water and snacks
