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One Word Substitution

IBPS PO · English Language

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Core Concept

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→Core Concept

One Word Substitution tests your ability to identify precise words that capture complete meanings. For example, 'A person who studies stars' becomes 'Astronomer'. The substitute word must match the exact meaning of the given phrase

💡Key Patterns in SSC CGL

Person-related substitutions (60% of questions) 2. Study/Science field substitutions (25% of questions) 3. Government/Political terms (10% of questions) 4. Miscellaneous concepts (5% of questions) Shortcut Formula 1 - Person Pattern: If the phrase starts with 'A person who...', look for words ending in -er, -ist, -ian, -or

✏️Examples

A person who sells books = Bookseller, A person who studies psychology = Psychologist

⚡Shortcut Formula 2 - Study Pattern

If the phrase mentions 'study of...', add -logy, -graphy, or -metry to the root

✏️Examples

Study of earthquakes = Seismology, Study of handwriting = Graphology

⚡Shortcut Formula 3 - Medical Pattern

Fear/abnormal conditions often end in -phobia. Diseases/conditions end in -itis or -osis

✏️Examples

Fear of water = Hydrophobia, Inflammation of joints = Arthritis

✏️Worked Example 1

1

Identify the key concept - government by people

2

Apply government pattern - look for -cracy endings

3

'Demo' means people, 'cracy' means government

4

Answer = Democracy Worked Example 2: Question: 'A person who believes that war and violence are unjustified'

1

Identify this is a person-related question

2

Key concept is 'against war and violence'

3

'Pac' means peace, '-ist' indicates a person who believes in something

4

Answer = Pacifist Exam

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Shortcuts

Use these to save 30–60 seconds per question

Use elimination method. If you know 2-3 options are wrong, guess from remaining choices. Most SSC CGL one-word substitutions follow common English patterns, so trust your language instinct. Common Mistake #1: Students often confuse similar-sounding words.

For example, 'Autobiography' (self-written life story) vs 'Biography' (life story written by others). Always read the phrase carefully to identify WHO is doing the action. This confusion costs many students easy marks. Another frequent error is mixing up medical and scientific terms. 'Cardiology' is study of heart, while 'Cardiologist' is the person who studies hearts.

Pay attention to whether the question asks for the field of study or the person practicing it. Time Management: Spend maximum 30 seconds per question. If you don't know the answer immediately, use elimination and move on. These questions test vocabulary knowledge, not reasoning ability.

🔑 Key Points

One word substitution replaces long phrases with single precise words
Person-related questions form 60% of SSC CGL one word substitution questions
Person Pattern Formula: Look for -er, -ist, -ian, -or endings when phrase starts with 'A person who'
Study Pattern Formula: Add -logy, -graphy, -metry to root words for 'study of' phrases
Medical Pattern Formula: Fears end in -phobia, diseases end in -itis or -osis
Government terms typically end in -cracy, -archy, or -ocracy
Always identify WHO is performing the action to avoid autobiography vs biography confusion
Use elimination method when unsure - eliminate 2-3 wrong options and guess
Spend maximum 30 seconds per question to maintain exam speed
Trust language instinct as most substitutions follow common English patterns

📌 Exam Facts

SSC CGL contains 2-3 direct one word substitution questions every year
Democracy means government by the people, derived from Greek 'demos' (people) and 'kratos' (power)
Autobiography is self-written life story while Biography is written by someone else
Pacifist believes war and violence are unjustified, from Latin 'pax' meaning peace
Astronomer studies celestial bodies, Astrologer predicts future using stars
Philanthropy means love for humanity, from Greek 'philos' (love) and 'anthropos' (human)
Regicide is killing of a king, Patricide is killing of father, Matricide is killing of mother
Misogynist hates women, Misanthropist hates humanity in general

🚀 60-Second Revision

Remember: Person questions use -er, -ist, -ian, -or pattern endings
Formula: Study of + concept = add -logy, -graphy, or -metry
Trap: Don't confuse autobiography (self-written) vs biography (written by others)
Pattern: Government types end in -cracy, -archy, medical fears in -phobia
Strategy: Use elimination method and trust language instinct for unknown words
Timing: Maximum 30 seconds per question, move on if stuck
Focus: Read WHO is doing the action carefully to avoid person vs concept confusion

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