spelling book

Word practice manual

A spelling book is a textbook designed to teach correct spelling, typically through word lists, exercises, and rules.

Once a staple of elementary education, spelling books—like Noah Webster's famous "blue-backed speller"—helped standardize American English spelling in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Also called a speller.

Related

vocabulary · word list · lessons · exercises · practice · penmanship · grammar · textbook · schoolroom · school days · old school · reading writing arithmetic · recitation · memorization · pages · chapters · drills · words

Categories
Opposites
reference type

spelling bookdictionary

Alphabetical word reference

picture book · coloring book · thesaurus · encyclopedia · pronunciation guide

educational purpose

spelling bookpicture book

Volume with art-driven narrative

storybook · novel · comic book

linguistic prescription vs. creative freedom

spelling bookexperimental fiction

Nontraditional narrative prose

sketchbook

Family

spelling, book, spell, speller, spelled, spells, misspell, misspelling, misspelled

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G