Ben Franklin, Noah Webster, and the American Spelling Revolution

In the early days of the United States, there was no standard spelling for many words. Different people spelled the same words in different ways, and there was often no consensus on which spelling was correct.

An Inconvenient Alphabet: Ben Franklin & Noah Webster's Spelling Revolution

by Beth Anderson

4.9 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	15395 KB
Print length	:	48 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE

This lack of standardization was a problem for communication and education. It was difficult to read and understand documents that were spelled in different ways, and it was difficult for students to learn to spell correctly when there was no one right way to spell a word.

In the 1780s, two of America's founding fathers, Ben Franklin and Noah Webster, set out to reform American spelling.

Franklin was a printer and publisher, and he was frustrated by the lack of standardization in spelling. He believed that a more standardized spelling system would make it easier to read and understand printed materials.

Webster was a teacher and lexicographer, and he was concerned about the lack of consistency in spelling. He believed that a more standardized spelling system would make it easier for students to learn to spell.

Franklin and Webster worked together to develop a new spelling system for American English. They proposed a number of changes to the traditional spelling of many words, including dropping silent letters, changing the spelling of certain words to make them more phonetic, and simplifying the spelling of some words.

Their proposals were met with resistance from some quarters, but they eventually gained acceptance. By the early 19th century, the American spelling system had become largely standardized, thanks to the work of Franklin and Webster.

The American spelling revolution was a major turning point in the history of the English language.

Franklin's Contributions

Franklin was one of the first people to propose a standardized spelling system for American English. He published a number of essays on the subject, and he even proposed a new spelling system in a letter to George Washington.

Franklin's spelling system was not adopted in its entirety, but it did have a significant impact on the development of American spelling. Many of the changes that Franklin proposed were eventually adopted, including dropping silent letters from words like "honor" and "color" and changing the spelling of words like "plough" to "plow".

Webster's Contributions

Webster was one of the most influential figures in the American spelling revolution. He published a number of dictionaries and spelling books, and he played a major role in standardizing American spelling.

Webster's first dictionary, published in 1806, included more than 70,000 words. It was the most comprehensive dictionary of American English at the time, and it had a major impact on the way that Americans spelled words.

Webster also published a number of spelling books, which were used by schoolchildren to learn how to spell. Webster's spelling books were very popular, and they helped to spread his standardized spelling system throughout the country.

The Impact of the American Spelling Revolution

The American spelling revolution had a major impact on the development of American English. It made it easier to read and understand printed materials, and it made it easier for students to learn to spell.

The American spelling system is still used today, with only minor changes. It is a testament to the work of Franklin and Webster that their spelling system has stood the test of time.

Ben Franklin and Noah Webster were two of the most important figures in the history of American English. Their work on spelling reform helped to standardize the American spelling system and make it easier for people to read, write, and communicate.

An Inconvenient Alphabet: Ben Franklin & Noah Webster's Spelling Revolution

by Beth Anderson

4.9 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	15395 KB
Print length	:	48 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE