Orthographically

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In relation to written language, this term signifies the adherence to correct spelling and the principles that guide the accurate formation of words in a specific language
2. Regarding written forms, it denotes the proper representation of lexical items according to established spelling conventions and the rules enforced within a language's orthography
3. This term refers to the aspects of written communication that involve conforming to the established rules of spelling and word formation in a particular language

Etymology: "Orthographically" is a plain formation: the adjective "orthographical" with the adverb suffix "-ly" added. The adjective is itself built from "orthography," which comes from Greek "orthographia," literally "correct writing," combining "orthos" (straight, correct) with "graphein" (to write). The adverb therefore means "in terms of correct spelling," and in practice it most often describes how a word is written, as in a word being spelled one way "orthographically" while sounding another. The suffix has a long lineage. The "-lik" element, meaning "having the form or quality of," is inherited from Proto-Germanic and became "-līċe" in Old English, which later wore down to "-ly" in Middle English. The same ending turns countless adjectives into adverbs, so "orthographically" is a regular product of that process rather than a word with a distinctive history of its own.

Synonyms: spelling-wise, in terms of spelling, grammatically, lexically, textually