orthography

American  

[awr-thog-ruh-fee] / ɔrˈθɒg rə fi /

noun

plural

orthographies

1. the art of writing words with the proper letters, according to accepted usage; correct spelling.

2. the part of language study concerned with letters and spelling.

3. a method of spelling, as by the use of an alphabet or other system of symbols; spelling.

4. a system of such symbols.

   Missionaries provided the first orthography for the language.

5. an orthographic projection, or an elevation drawn by means of it.

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orthography British  

/ ɔːˈθɒɡrəfɪ /

noun

1. a writing system

2. 1. spelling considered to be correct

   2. the principles underlying spelling

3. the study of spelling

4. orthographic projection

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Other Word Forms

• orthographer noun

Etymology

Origin of orthography

1425–75; late Middle English ortografye < Latin orthographia correct writing, orthogonal projection < Greek orthographía. See ortho-, -graphy

Example Sentences

He asked for all the word’s information — its definition, part of speech, orthography, use in a sentence — but he didn’t need it, evidenced by a slight smile as he spoke.

From New York Times • Jun. 2, 2023

We don’t have an official Bemba dictionary — and the orthography of Zambian languages is also pretty inconsistent.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2019

“The orthography is a little difficult, and the verbs seemed chaotic.”

From The New Yorker • Aug. 27, 2018

Tomlinson, who died on March 5th, made a lasting contribution to the world’s orthography by choosing the @ symbol for e-mail addresses.

From Economist • Mar. 10, 2016

If it wasn’t orthography, it was looking up meanings.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck