Rechtschreibreform

Rechtschreibreform refers to efforts to reform and harmonize the spelling and punctuation rules of the German language. The most influential reform was the German orthography reform of 1996, coordinated by the Rat für Deutsche Rechtschreibung (Council for German Orthography) and supported by Germany, Austria, and, with variations, Switzerland. The aim was to simplify spelling, reduce irregularities, and modernize orthographic conventions across the German-speaking world.

Key provisions involved changes to the use of the Eszett (ß) and the double s (ss), adjustments to hyphenation rules, and modifications to capitalization and word boundaries in some cases. A noteworthy principle is that ß is used after long vowels and diphthongs, while ss appears after short vowels; other changes affected the handling of compounds and certain foreign names in specific contexts.

Adoption occurred progressively from the late 1990s. Austria and Germany implemented the reform in education and media, while Switzerland introduced reform elements over a longer period and with regional variations. The reform sparked controversy and debate about tradition, costs, and practicality; some publishers and writers resisted changes or used alternative spellings in particular contexts. Since the mid-2000s, the reform and its amendments have formed the basis of contemporary standard German orthography, with the Duden serving as the de facto normative reference. Regional differences remain, notably between Switzerland, Austria, and Germany, but the overall framework is widely used in official and educational settings.