Comparison of schemes
‘The Star’ by H.G. Wells
The following word for word transcriptions of ‘The Star’ serve to compare the ease with which a literate person can read and understand different spelling schemes when reading passages for the first time.

The ‘brevity’ of a text is measured by its number of letters. Omitting letters from words may improve ‘brevity’ at the cost of ‘readability’. The task is to devise the best compromise. In this comparison Saaspel ‘digraphs’ are applied. By using diacritics, approximately 7% fewer letters would be needed.

Old (Tradspel), ALC (American Spelling), NS 90 (Newspell 90), Sasp (Saaspel).



Trad. It was on the first day of the new year that the announcement
ALC It was on the furst dae of the nue yeer that the anounsment
NS90 It woz on the ferst dae ov the nue yeer that the anounsment
Sasp It woz on th furst daa ov th nyu yir that th anaunsmnt


Trad. was made, almost simultaneously from three observatories,
ALC was maed, aulmoest siemultaeniusly frum three obzervatorys,
NS90 woz maed, aulmoest simultaeneusli from three observatories,
Sasp woz maad, oulmoost simultaaniusli frm ttree obzurvatriz,


Trad. that the motion of the planet Neptune, the outermost of all
ALC that the moeshun of the planet Neptune, the outermoest of all
NS90 that the moeshen ov the planet Neptune, the outermoest ov aul
Sasp that th mooshn ov th planut Neptune, th autrmoost ov oul


Trad. the planets that wheel about the sun, had become very erratic.
ALC the planets that wheel about the sun, had becum verry erratic.
NS90 the planets that weel about the sun, had bekum veri eratik.
Sasp th planuts that weel abaut th sun, had bicum veri iratic.


Trad. A retardation in its velocity had been suspected in December.
ALC A retardaeshun in its velosity had bin suspected in Desember.
NS90 A retardaeshen in its velositi had been suspekted in Desember.
Sasp A reetardaashn in its velositi had been suspectd in December.


Trad. Then a faint, remote spec of light was discovered in the region
ALC Then a faent, remoet spek of liet was discuverd in the reejon
NS90 Then a faint, remoet spek ov lyt woz diskuverd in the reejen
Sasp Then a faant, rimoot spec ov liit woz discuvrd in th reejn


Trad. of the perturbed planet. At first this did not cause any very great
ALC of the perterbd planet. At furst this did not cauz eny verry graet
NS90 ov the peterbd planet. At ferst this did not kauz eni veri graet
Sasp ov th purturbd planut. At furst this did not couz eni veri graat


Trad. excitement. Scientific people, however, found the intelligence
ALC exsietment. Sieentific peepl, however, found the intelijens
NS90 eksytment. Syentifik peepl, houever, found the intelijens
Sasp xiitmnt. Siientific peepl, hauevr, faund th intelijns


Trad. remarkable enough, even before it became known that the new
ALC remarkabl enuf, eeven befor it becaem noen that the nue
NS90 remarkabl enuf, eeven befor it bekaem noen that the nue
Sasp rimarcubl inuf, eevn bifor it bicaam noon that th nyu


Trad. body was rapidly growing larger and brighter, and that its
ALC body was rapidly groeing larjer and brieter, and that its
NS90 bodi woz rapidli groeing larjer and bryter, and that its
Sasp bodi woz rapidli grooing larjr nd briitr, nd that its


Trad. motion was quite different from the orderly progress
ALC moeshun was qiet diferent frum the orderly progres
NS90 moeshen woz kwyt diferent from the orderli progres
Sasp mooshn woz qiit difrnt frm th ordrli progres


Trad. of the planets.
ALC of the planets.
NS90 ov the planets.
Sasp ov th planuts.


Trad.   Traditional spelling.
ALC    American Literacy Council.
NS     Newspell 90.
Sasp   Saaspel.