Definition of orthography Orthography

/ɔɹθɑˈgɹʌfi/ - [orthagrufee] - or•thog•ra•phy

We found 11 definitions of orthography from 6 different sources.

What does orthography mean?

WordNet

Noun Plural: orthographies
orthography - a method of representing the sounds of a language by written or printed symbols
		writing system
		writing the activity of putting something in written form; "she did the thinking while he did the writing"
		word division, hyphenation division of a word especially at the end of a line on a page
		script a particular orthography or writing system
		spelling forming words with letters according to the principles underlying accepted usage
		picture writing a writing system using pictographs
		alphabetic script, alphabetic writing a writing system based on alphabetic characters
		boustrophedon an ancient writing system: having alternate lines written in opposite directions; literally `as the ox ploughs'
		ideography the use of ideograms in writing
		hieroglyph, hieroglyphic a writing system using picture symbols; used in ancient Egypt
		point system a system of evaluation based on awarding points according to rules

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Wiktionary

orthography (Noun)
The study of correct spelling according to established usage.
orthography (Noun)
The aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words.
orthography (Noun)
Spelling; the method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols.
orthography (Noun)
Orthographic projection; especially its use to draw an elevation, vertical projection etc. of a building.

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

orthography (n.)
The art or practice of writing words with the proper letters, according to standard usage; conventionally correct spelling; also, mode of spelling; as, his orthography is vicious.
orthography (n.)
The part of grammar which treats of the letters, and of the art of spelling words correctly.
orthography (n.)
A drawing in correct projection, especially an elevation or a vertical section.

OmegaWiki DictionaryOmegaWiki Dictionary Ω

orthography
The study of correct spelling according to established usage.

Wikipedia

Orthography, or spelling, is the correct order and combination of letters put together to form words.

Spelling changes over time. At about the time of the Renaissance, words in English didn't have a fixed spelling. Over time, however, different combinations of letters became more common, resulting in the more standard spellings of words we see today.

Differences in American English and British English prove that spelling is not set in stone. In the early nineteenth century, Noah Webster set out to change American English forever. He wished to distinguish American English spelling from British English spelling. In Noah Webster's dictionary, "practise" became "practice", "colour" became "color", and "centre" became "center". In doing this, Webster created a new identity for American English.

Some people argue which language is the easiest to spell. No language is hard or easy, but people who learn a second language think that their first (native) language is the easiest.

Languages which are phonetic can be easier to learn to spell than others. Phonetic languages are pronounced exactly as they are spelled and are spelled exactly as they are pronounced. The Italian word "orologio" for instance is pronounced oh-ro-LO-jo ("gi" always making a "j" sound.) In English, one comes across the word "knife". In "knife", the "k" is not spoken, even though in English it's more common to pronounce "K"s when they are in words. The spelling of the English language can be difficult because Engli