Strategies for standardizing spelling of scholarly terminology

The paper examines the spelling of scholarly terms from two points of view: as part of the terminology system and as part of common language. It is shown that multiple objective and subjective causes determine the inevitability of spelling variation in terminology and that all types of deviation from standards concern individual vocables, not rules. Particular attention is given to cases in which specialized terms enter common usage, sometimes leading to changes in their spelling and raising the need for standardization. We analyze previous standards of terminology in general spelling dictionaries, analyze them as part of common language norms and propose possible strategies for standardizing terminology.