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Webster, Worcester and the Dictionary Wars, Part 1

Stuff You Missed in History Class

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Noah Webster's Proposed Spelling Reforms

In 1790, Webster published a collection of essays and fugitive writings by Noah Webster. It was dedicated to Benjamin Franklin and in it, he argued for American English to be separated from the English of Britain. This included calling for reforms to how English was spelled. Along with other changes, Webster argued that all superfluous or silent letters should be omitted.

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