English-language spelling reform

Many proposals have been made to change the system of English orthography with the aim of making it more consistent and closer to the spoken language. Common motives for spelling reform include making learning quicker and cheaper, thereby making English more useful as an international language.

Reform proposals vary widely in the scope and depth of their changes. While some aim to uniformly follow the alphabetic principle (occasionally by creating new alphabets), others merely suggest changing a few common words. Conservative proposals try to improve the existing system by using the traditional English alphabet, maintaining the familiar shapes of words and applying existing conventions more regularly (such as silent e). More radical proposals might completely restructure the look and feel of the system. Some reformers prefer a gradual change implemented in stages, while others favor an immediate and total reform for all.

Some spelling reform proposals have been adopted partially or temporarily. Many of the spellings preferred by Noah Webster have become standard in the United States, but have not been adopted elsewhere (see American and British English spelling differences).