Orthography

Orthography is an official or correct way to write a particular language. It includes rules of spelling.^[1] Orthography may also include rules about punctuation, capitalization, and diacritics (e.g. accents). In English, spelling is a problem for all learners, and is the main issue in orthography.

Some languages have someone to decide the correct spelling, such as the Académie française. English does not. English orthography was the work of the early printers. They had to decide how particular words would be spelled in their books. Gradually the number of alternative spellings began to drop. The word which is "merry" today was spelled in about 30 ways in written sources from the 9th to the 16th century.^[2]p970

1. ↑ Concise Oxford English Dictionary. Orthography: 1. Correct spelling; the way in which words are conventionally written. 2. That part of grammar which [deals with] the nature and values of letters and their combination. Spelling: The action of expressing words by letters; or, naming the letters of words.
2. ↑ Cite error: The named reference Tom was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).