Choose the correctly spelled word.

**The reasoning** The correct spelling is **Separate** (B). Here's the memory trick: think of "sep-**A**-rate" — there's **A RAT** in separate! The word comes from Latin *separare*, which uses "a" in the middle. In English, we kept that "a". The pronunciation might confuse you (we say "sep-rut"), but the spelling stays "sep-**a**-rate." **Why the wrong options tempt you** - **A (Seperate)**: This mirrors how many people pronounce it — "SEP-rut" — so they write an "e". Wrong! - **C & D (Seperete/Separete)**: These mix up the vowels completely because you're guessing without a clear rule. The confusion happens when you rely only on sound. **Quick takeaway** Remember: **"There's A RAT in sepARAte"** — that middle "a" never changes, no matter how you pronounce it! This same pattern appears in words like "desperate" (there's A RAT there too). Lock in the spelling visually, not just by sound.