skriftslig

Skriftslig is a variant spelling associated with the Norwegian adjective meaning written or in writing. In standard modern Norwegian, the commonly accepted form is skriftlig, used to describe something produced in writing, such as skriftlig eksamen (written exam) or skriftlig besvarelse (written response). The form skriftslig is generally considered nonstandard or archaic in contemporary Norwegian and is not endorsed in standard Bokmål or Nynorsk usage. It may occasionally appear in older texts, in dialectal writing, or as a spelling error.

Etymology and meaning over time connect skriftslig to the same root as skrift (writing) and the suffix -lig, which yields an adjective meaning "having the nature of" or "related to." The underlying concept is stable across Norwegian varieties: a designation of textual rather than oral form.

Usage notes: Skriftlig is typically used in formal or institutional contexts to distinguish written material from oral, spoken, or visual forms. Examples include written exams, written reports, and written examinations in education, as well as written submissions in administrative or legal settings. While skriftslig may be encountered in some texts, it is not the recommended form in standard Norwegian writing guides, and writers are advised to prefer skriftlig to ensure orthographic accuracy.

Related terms in Scandinavian languages include Swedish skriftlig and Danish skriftlig, both of which share the same meaning. In German, the cognate is schriftlich, and in English the equivalent is written or in writing. See also skriftlig, skrift, and written composition.