Simplified Spelling Board
Updated: 11/10/2025, 6:54:45 PM Wikipedia source
The Simplified Spelling Board was an American organization created in 1906 to reform the spelling of the English language, making it simpler and easier to learn, and eliminating many of its inconsistencies. The board operated until 1920, the year after the death of its founding benefactor, who had come to criticize the progress and approach of the organization.
Tables
· <i>Handbook of Simplified Spelling</i>
AE (Æ) and OE (Œ) pronounced /ɛ/
AE (Æ) and OE (Œ) pronounced /ɛ/
Existing spelling
AE (Æ) and OE (Œ) pronounced /ɛ/
Rule
use E
Examples
aesthetic→esthetic, foetus→fetus,alumnae (unchanged)
BT pronounced /t/
BT pronounced /t/
Existing spelling
BT pronounced /t/
Rule
use T
Examples
debt→det, doubt→dout
–CEED
–CEED
Existing spelling
–CEED
Rule
use –CEDE
Examples
exceed→excede, proceed→procede
CH pronounced /k/
CH pronounced /k/
Existing spelling
CH pronounced /k/
Rule
drop silent Hexcept before E, I, Y
Examples
character→caracter, school→scoolchemist, architect, monarchy (unchanged)
final double consonant
final double consonant
Existing spelling
final double consonant
Rule
drop the last letter,but with –LL only after a short vowel,and with –SS only in monosyllables
Examples
add→ad, bill→bil, bluff→bluf, doll→dol, egg→eg, glass→glas, loss→losBut retain double consonant in all, roll, needless, a.s.f.
double consonant before silent –E
double consonant before silent –E
Existing spelling
double consonant before silent –E
Rule
drop the last two letters
Examples
bagatelle→bagatel, bizarre→bizar, cigarette→cigaret, giraffe→giraf, gramme→gram
silent or misleading –E
silent or misleading –E
Existing spelling
silent or misleading –E
Rule
drop the E
Examples
are→ar, give→giv, have→hav, were→wer, gone→gon,examine→examin, practise→practis, definite→definit, active→activ, involve→involv, serve→serv,achieve→achiev, leave→leav, freeze→freez, gauze→gauz, sleeve→sleev
EA pronounced /ɛ/
EA pronounced /ɛ/
Existing spelling
EA pronounced /ɛ/
Rule
use E
Examples
head→hed
EA pronounced /ɑ/
EA pronounced /ɑ/
Existing spelling
EA pronounced /ɑ/
Rule
use A
Examples
heart→hart
EAU and EAUX pronounced /əʊ/
EAU and EAUX pronounced /əʊ/
Existing spelling
EAU and EAUX pronounced /əʊ/
Rule
use O
Examples
bureau→buro
–ED pronounced /d/
–ED pronounced /d/
Existing spelling
–ED pronounced /d/
Rule
use –D,reduce any foregoing doubled consonant to a single letter
Examples
answered→anserd, called→cald, carried→carrid, preferred→preferd, wronged→wrongd.Do not make this change if the spelling suggests an incorrect pronunciation: bribed not bribd; used not usd, a.s.f.
–ED pronounced /t/
–ED pronounced /t/
Existing spelling
–ED pronounced /t/
Rule
use –T,reduce any foregoing doubled consonant to a single letter,change CED/SCED to ST
Examples
asked→askt, advanced→advanst.Do not make this change if the spelling suggests an incorrect pronunciation: baked not bakt; hoped not hopt, a.s.f.
EI pronounced /iː/
EI pronounced /iː/
Existing spelling
EI pronounced /iː/
Rule
use IE
Examples
conceit→conciet, deceive→deciev
–EY pronounced /iː/
–EY pronounced /iː/
Existing spelling
–EY pronounced /iː/
Rule
use –Y
Examples
chimney→chimny, money→mony
GH pronounced /f/
GH pronounced /f/
Existing spelling
GH pronounced /f/
Rule
use F,drop the silent letter in the foregoing digraph
Examples
cough→cof, laugh→laf, enough→enuf
GH pronounced /ɡ/
GH pronounced /ɡ/
Existing spelling
GH pronounced /ɡ/
Rule
use G
Examples
aghast→agast, ghost→gost
–GM pronounced /m/
–GM pronounced /m/
Existing spelling
–GM pronounced /m/
Rule
use M
Examples
apothegm→apothem, paradigm→paradim
–GUE after a consonant, a short vowel or a digraph representing a long vowel or diphthong
–GUE after a consonant, a short vowel or a digraph representing a long vowel or diphthong
Existing spelling
–GUE after a consonant, a short vowel or a digraph representing a long vowel or diphthong
Rule
drop silent –UE
Examples
catalogue→catalog, league→leag, prologue→prolog tongue→tungBut not in rogue, vague, a.s.f.
–ISE and –YSE pronounced /aɪz/
–ISE and –YSE pronounced /aɪz/
Existing spelling
–ISE and –YSE pronounced /aɪz/
Rule
use –IZE
Examples
advertise→advertize, analyse→analize, rise→rize
–MB after a short vowel
–MB after a short vowel
Existing spelling
–MB after a short vowel
Rule
use M
Examples
bomb→bom, crumb→crumBut not after a long vowel as in comb, tomb, a.s.f.
–OE pronounced /oʊ/
–OE pronounced /oʊ/
Existing spelling
–OE pronounced /oʊ/
Rule
drop silent E,except in inflected forms
Examples
foe→fo, hoe→hofoes, hoed (unchanged)
OEU pronounced /uː/
OEU pronounced /uː/
Existing spelling
OEU pronounced /uː/
Rule
use U
Examples
manoeuvre→maneuver
OUL pronounced /əʊl/
OUL pronounced /əʊl/
Existing spelling
OUL pronounced /əʊl/
Rule
use OL,except in "soul"
Examples
boulder→bolder, mould→mold
–OUGH
–OUGH
Existing spelling
–OUGH
Rule
use O/U/OCK/UP according to pronunciation
Examples
although→altho, borough→boro, doughnut→donut, thorough→thoro, through→thru, hough→hock, hiccough→hiccup. though→tho For plough write plow, but not bow for bough.
–OUR pronounced /ər/
–OUR pronounced /ər/
Existing spelling
–OUR pronounced /ər/
Rule
use –OR
Examples
colour→color, flavour→flavor
PH pronounced /f/
PH pronounced /f/
Existing spelling
PH pronounced /f/
Rule
use F
Examples
alphabet→alfabet, telephone→telefone
–RE after any consonant except C
–RE after any consonant except C
Existing spelling
–RE after any consonant except C
Rule
use –ER
Examples
centre→center, metre→meter.But retain –RE in lucre, mediocre.
RH– pronounced /r/
RH– pronounced /r/
Existing spelling
RH– pronounced /r/
Rule
use R
Examples
rhetoric→retoric, rhubarb→rubarb
RRH pronounced /r/
RRH pronounced /r/
Existing spelling
RRH pronounced /r/
Rule
use R
Examples
hemorrhage→hemorage
silent S between I and L
silent S between I and L
Existing spelling
silent S between I and L
Rule
drop silent S
Examples
island→iland
SC– pronounced /s/
SC– pronounced /s/
Existing spelling
SC– pronounced /s/
Rule
use S
Examples
scenery→senery, scissors→sissors
–SQUE pronounced /sk/
–SQUE pronounced /sk/
Existing spelling
–SQUE pronounced /sk/
Rule
use –SK
Examples
burlesque→burlesk
silent U before a vowel
silent U before a vowel
Existing spelling
silent U before a vowel
Rule
drop silent U
Examples
guard→gard, guess→ges, guide→gide
Y between consonants
Y between consonants
Existing spelling
Y between consonants
Rule
use I
Examples
analysis→analisis, type→tipe
YOU pronounced /jʌ/
YOU pronounced /jʌ/
Existing spelling
YOU pronounced /jʌ/
Rule
use YU
Examples
your→yur, young→yung
| Existing spelling | Rule | Examples |
| AE (Æ) and OE (Œ) pronounced /ɛ/ | use E | aesthetic→esthetic, foetus→fetus,alumnae (unchanged) |
| BT pronounced /t/ | use T | debt→det, doubt→dout |
| –CEED | use –CEDE | exceed→excede, proceed→procede |
| CH pronounced /k/ | drop silent Hexcept before E, I, Y | character→caracter, school→scoolchemist, architect, monarchy (unchanged) |
| final double consonant | drop the last letter,but with –LL only after a short vowel,and with –SS only in monosyllables | add→ad, bill→bil, bluff→bluf, doll→dol, egg→eg, glass→glas, loss→losBut retain double consonant in all, roll, needless, a.s.f. |
| double consonant before silent –E | drop the last two letters | bagatelle→bagatel, bizarre→bizar, cigarette→cigaret, giraffe→giraf, gramme→gram |
| silent or misleading –E | drop the E | are→ar, give→giv, have→hav, were→wer, gone→gon,examine→examin, practise→practis, definite→definit, active→activ, involve→involv, serve→serv,achieve→achiev, leave→leav, freeze→freez, gauze→gauz, sleeve→sleev |
| EA pronounced /ɛ/ | use E | head→hed |
| EA pronounced /ɑ/ | use A | heart→hart |
| EAU and EAUX pronounced /əʊ/ | use O | bureau→buro |
| –ED pronounced /d/ | use –D,reduce any foregoing doubled consonant to a single letter | answered→anserd, called→cald, carried→carrid, preferred→preferd, wronged→wrongd.Do not make this change if the spelling suggests an incorrect pronunciation: bribed not bribd; used not usd, a.s.f. |
| –ED pronounced /t/ | use –T,reduce any foregoing doubled consonant to a single letter,change CED/SCED to ST | asked→askt, advanced→advanst.Do not make this change if the spelling suggests an incorrect pronunciation: baked not bakt; hoped not hopt, a.s.f. |
| EI pronounced /iː/ | use IE | conceit→conciet, deceive→deciev |
| –EY pronounced /iː/ | use –Y | chimney→chimny, money→mony |
| GH pronounced /f/ | use F,drop the silent letter in the foregoing digraph | cough→cof, laugh→laf, enough→enuf |
| GH pronounced /ɡ/ | use G | aghast→agast, ghost→gost |
| –GM pronounced /m/ | use M | apothegm→apothem, paradigm→paradim |
| –GUE after a consonant, a short vowel or a digraph representing a long vowel or diphthong | drop silent –UE | catalogue→catalog, league→leag, prologue→prolog tongue→tungBut not in rogue, vague, a.s.f. |
| –ISE and –YSE pronounced /aɪz/ | use –IZE | advertise→advertize, analyse→analize, rise→rize |
| –MB after a short vowel | use M | bomb→bom, crumb→crumBut not after a long vowel as in comb, tomb, a.s.f. |
| –OE pronounced /oʊ/ | drop silent E,except in inflected forms | foe→fo, hoe→hofoes, hoed (unchanged) |
| OEU pronounced /uː/ | use U | manoeuvre→maneuver |
| OUL pronounced /əʊl/ | use OL,except in "soul" | boulder→bolder, mould→mold |
| –OUGH | use O/U/OCK/UP according to pronunciation | although→altho, borough→boro, doughnut→donut, thorough→thoro, through→thru, hough→hock, hiccough→hiccup. though→tho For plough write plow, but not bow for bough. |
| –OUR pronounced /ər/ | use –OR | colour→color, flavour→flavor |
| PH pronounced /f/ | use F | alphabet→alfabet, telephone→telefone |
| –RE after any consonant except C | use –ER | centre→center, metre→meter.But retain –RE in lucre, mediocre. |
| RH– pronounced /r/ | use R | rhetoric→retoric, rhubarb→rubarb |
| RRH pronounced /r/ | use R | hemorrhage→hemorage |
| silent S between I and L | drop silent S | island→iland |
| SC– pronounced /s/ | use S | scenery→senery, scissors→sissors |
| –SQUE pronounced /sk/ | use –SK | burlesque→burlesk |
| silent U before a vowel | drop silent U | guard→gard, guess→ges, guide→gide |
| Y between consonants | use I | analysis→analisis, type→tipe |
| YOU pronounced /jʌ/ | use YU | your→yur, young→yung |
References
- "Carnegie Assaults The Spelling Book; To Pay the Cost of Reforming English Orthography. Campaign About To Begin Board Nahttps://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F02E5D6103EE733A25751C1A9659C946797D6CF&scp=1
- "New York May Not Follow.; Mr. Draper Doesn't Believe in Telling People How to Spell", The New York Times, August 25, 19https://www.nytimes.com/1906/08/25/archives/new-york-may-not-follow-mr-draper-doesnt-believe-in-telling-people.html
- "Simple Spellers Start With 300 Pruned Words; They Want to Avoid Scaring People at First. Not Reformers, They Insist Colhttps://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C07E2D6103EE733A25750C1A9659C946797D6CF
- "Topics Of The Times", The New York Times, March 13, 1906. Accessed August 28, 2008.https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A00E2D6103EE733A25750C1A9659C946797D6CF
- "Topics Of The Times", The New York Times, March 14, 1906. Accessed August 28, 2008.https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B04E4D91531E733A25757C1A9659C946797D6CF
- "Topics Of The Times", The New York Times, March 22, 1906. Accessed August 28, 2008.https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A04E0DF113EE733A25751C2A9659C946797D6CF
- Funk, I.K. "Letter to the Editor – Simplified Spelling.; Two Lines of Work, Requiring Patience and Discrimination.", Thehttps://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C05EEDF113EE733A25756C2A9659C946797D6CF
- "Start The Campaign For Simple Spelling; Managers Issue a Circular Showing Method to be Adopted. Anomalies Are Regulatedhttps://www.nytimes.com/1906/04/01/archives/start-the-campaign-for-simple-spelling-managers-issue-a-circular.html
- "Simple Spellers Issue A List For Beginners; It Includes 300 Words, Mostly Having Dictionary Sanction. More If More Arehttps://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E03EEDC1E3EE733A2575BC1A9609C946797D6CF
- "Simplified Spelling For Public Schools; Board of Education Adopts a List of 300 Words. Cheap Lunch Plan Rejected Policehttps://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9D01E6D71F3DE633A2575BC2A9609C946797D6CF&scp=22&sq=%22Simplified+Spelling+Board%22&st=p
- "Spelling Reform By Executive Order", The New York Times, September 25, 1906. Accessed August 28, 2008.https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9D00E3DB173EE733A25756C2A96E9C946797D6CF
- "President Surprised Even Simple Spellers; Prof. Brander Matthews Didn't Expect Executive Aid. Lexicographers In Line Edhttps://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E0CE7DE1531E733A2575BC2A96E9C946797D6CF
- Pringle 465–7
- Theodore Roosevelt on Leadershiphttps://books.google.com/books?id=s_eisU8ICugC&pg=PA88
- "Roosevelt Spelling Makes Britons Laugh; London Newspapers Turn Their Humorists Loose. Phonetic Wail In The Sun It Sayshttps://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A02E1DB173EE733A25755C2A96E9C946797D6CF
- MacGilvray, Daniel R. A Short History of GPO Archived June 8, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, United States Government Prihttp://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/history/macgilvray.html
- Roosevelt, Theodore. "Letters to Kermit from Theodore Roosevelt 1902 to 1908", Kessinger .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- bhttps://books.google.com/books?id=jcIxGQAACAAJ&pg=PA110
- Anderson, George B. "The Forgotten Crusader: Andrew Carnegie and the simplified spelling movement" Journal of the Simplihttp://www.spellingsociety.org/journals/j26/carnegie.php
- Carnegie, Andrew. "My views about Improved Spelling 1906–1915", Columbia University, Brander Matthews' Manuscript Collec
- Handbook of Simplified Spelling. Simplified Spelling Board, 1920.https://archive.org/details/handbooksimplif00boargoog