Schreibweise

Schreibweise is a term used in German to denote the way something is written or spelled. It encompasses the conventions of orthography, punctuation, capitalization, hyphenation, and the representation of numerals and diacritics, as well as the preferred way to render proper names and brands. In a broader sense, it can also refer to the notation or rendering used in a particular field, such as phonetic transcription or mathematical notation.

In linguistics and typography, Schreibweise describes the standard spelling and typographic presentation used for a language or a text system. It may also include guidelines on the formatting of abbreviations, foreign words, and stylistic choices such as the use of ligatures or capitalization of nouns.

In German, Schreibweise is closely tied to orthography. The modern standard has been shaped by reform efforts in the late 20th century, notably the German orthography reform of 1996 and subsequent adjustments in 2004–2006, which aimed to unify spelling across German-speaking countries. The reforms touched capitalization rules, the use of ß and ss, hyphenation, and compound word writing. The Duden dictionary and the Council for German Orthography play central roles in defining and updating the accepted Schreibweise.

Outside German, the term is used to describe the chosen writing conventions for other languages, transliteration schemes, or the notation used in science and mathematics. In all cases, Schreibweise denotes the agreed way in which characters, symbols, and words are written to ensure clarity and consistency.