Õigekeelsust

Õigekeelsust refers to the normative standard of Estonian orthography and language usage. It covers spelling, punctuation, grammar, word formation, capitalization and hyphenation, as well as the conventions governing style and appropriate word choice in formal written language. In Estonia, õige keelsus is maintained by linguistic authorities and used as a reference in education, publishing and media.

Standardization and authority: The modern codification of Estonian orthography began in the 19th century and has been refined through the 20th and 21st centuries. The main normative references are produced by the Institute of the Estonian Language (Eesti Keele Instituut) and the Estonian Language Society. The leading reference work is the Õigekeelsussõnaraamat (Orthographic Dictionary) and the official Estonian orthography rules (Eesti kirjakeele reeglid).

Use and scope: The norms guide how new words are formed and incorporated, how foreign terms are adapted, and how punctuation and capitalization are applied. They inform school education, journalism, publishing, and official documents, and are accessible online via the Institute’s resources and databases.

Variation and evolution: While õigekeelsus aims at uniform standards, actual usage varies by register and region. The norms are periodically updated to reflect language change, technological terminology, and international influence, which sometimes leads to debates about spellings of loanwords or new compounds.

See also: Õigekeelsussõnaraamat; Eesti kirjakeele reeglid; Eesti Keele Instituut.