== Newsletters ==
# <span class=q>Does NASPA have its own newsletter? </span><br /> Yes - No, but NASPA has been sending a weekly electronic newsletter - NASPA News (originally called Tournament Talk) - since April 21, 2016. Previously, NASPA issued the [[NASPA_Bulletin|NASPA Bulletinbulletin]] which appears periodically between 2009 and 2012hopes to appear more regularly as time goes on.# <span class=q>Where can I find the NASPA NewsBulletin? </span><br /> You can find an archive of NASPA News issues plus other emails sent to Click on the membership [http://www.scrabbleplayers.org/w/IContact here[NASPA_Bulletin|Bulletin]]link in the sidebar of any page.# <span class=q>My friend doesn’t have Internet access, but is a NASPA member. How can my friend read the NASPA NewsBulletin? </span><br /> You Although the NASPA Bulletin is protected by copyright, you may print it for your own personal use and for the personal use of other members. Registered directors are encouraged to do so for their players. # <span class=q>I know someone who does not have Internet access and does not go to clubs or tournaments. How can they read the NASPA Bulletin? </span><br /> NASPA is an association for club and tournament players. If a person does not want to attend clubs or tournaments, they will not be interested in the NASPA Bulletin. # <span class=q>When will the next issue of the NASPA News Bulletin be published? </span><br /> The NASPA News is published each ThursdayWe are working toward a more publication schedule and thank you for your patience.
== [[North American National SCRABBLE Championship]] ==# <span class=q>When/where is the [[2018 2017 North American SCRABBLE Championship]]?</span><br />August 4July 22–826, with mandatory registration (in person or by proxy) the day before at the Buffalo Niagara Convention CenterHyatt Regency, 153 Franklin Street601 Loyola Avenue, BuffaloNew Orleans, NYLA.
# <span class=q>Who decides the format of the NASC?</span><br />The NASPA [[Championship Committee]] is charged with organizing and running our annual championship tournament. The Championship Committee makes hundreds of decisions with respect to the organization of the NASC. The Championship Committee functions much like the organizers/directors of other NASPA tournaments, choosing a venue, negotiating terms, setting entry fees, establishing division cutoffs, determining pairing format, etc.
# <span class=q>Where can I play SCRABBLE games? </span><br /> You can play the [http://www.hasbro.com/scrabble/en_US/ original game] in person with your friends and family, play [http://www.ea.com/scrabble online with Electronic Arts (EA)], practice for serious competition at our official [[Clubs]] and earn a [[rating]] at our official [[Tournaments]].
# <span class=q>What version of EA SCRABBLE does my Apple device support? </span><br /> EA will be making a necessary change to security licenses that will cause SCRABBLE players on Apple devices to be unable to play SCRABBLE versions 3.7.0 and earlier starting September 1, 2016. EA is encouraging all SCRABBLE players on these versions to upgrade to the latest version of the game via the Apple App Store. In order to check what SCRABBLE version you are on, simply go to Options in the Main Screen, tap on About, and scroll to the bottom to see your Version Number.
# <span class=q>My ZMF-II timer does not show overtime but stops when it reaches 00:00. How can I fix this issue? </span><br /> If you ordered the ZMF-II timer from the [http://www.scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/shop.pl NASPA Store], it should have come configured for sanctioned play for game lengths of 25 minutes, 22 minutes, and 3 minutes. If the timer is not showing overtime, you can follow these [[ZMF-II instructions| instructions]] to configure the timer for SCRABBLE mode.
== Ratings ==
== Words ==
# <span class=q> What are all these official word lists? </span><br /> Any group of players can agree to use a particular word list or dictionary in their games. In officially sanctioned competitive play though, we all use one of a few official word lists designed for use with our game. Unlike regular dictionaries, for example, official word lists list all valid inflections for all listed words. Within NASPA's territory of the United States and Canada, the following word lists are officially recognized: [[SSWL]] for school play, [[OTCWL]] for regular competitive play, and [[CSW]] for international play.
=== Word List Contents ===# <span class=q> Why is (my favorite word) not acceptable? </span><br /> See [[How lexicons are compiled|how lexicons are compiled]].# <span class=q> Why is (a common nine-letter word) not in OSPD? </span><br /> OSPD lists only words of up to eight letters, and their inflections. For longer words, please consult OTCWL, beginning with its 2014 edition.# <span class=q> Why is ZEN not acceptable? </span><br /> Because none of our source lexica list it spelled without a capital Z.# <span class=q> What's up with DA? </span><br /> DA was deleted from the playing lexicon as of OSPD3 as a result of a major review of the original research that led to OSPD1; it is reentering the lexicon as of OTCWL2014, because it is listed in one of our new source lexica.# <span class=q> Why is a particular word in [[OTCWL]] but not in [[OSPD]]? </span><br /> Although both OTCWL and OSPD are edited by both NASPA and Merriam-Webster, the publications are edited at different times by different individuals according to different criteria. The commonest causes for a word appearing in OTCWL but not in OSPD are: being longer than 8 letters, being potentially offensive, being a possible trademark in some jurisdictions, having entered a source lexicon between the editorial deadlines for the two works, or differing editorial opinions concerning ambiguities in source lexica.# <span class=q> Can you send me a list of words that are in one lexicon but not in another? </span><br /> For licensing and copyright reasons no, but you can probably make the list yourself using [[NASPA Zyzzyva]].
=== Word List Purchasing, Publishing, Licensing ===
# <span class=q> Do I have to be a NASPA member to buy a copy of the Official Tournament and Club Word List?</span><br /> Yes, licensing conditions have always required vendors to confirm association membership status for word list sales.
# <span class=q> Will the next printing of [[OTCWL]] incorporate the published errata from the current edition? </span><br />It will, but it should also include new words yet to be determined.
# <span class=q> Will the next printing of [[OSPD]] incorporate be any different from the current edition? </span><br />That's a question for [[Merriam-Webster]], but in past editions, most new printings within an edition have included minor updates.
# <span class=q> When can I use the latest word lists with Quackle, Zarf, Elise, ...? </span><br /> The word list is subject to a copyright. We are not aware that some people have bootleg copies of any plans by the developers of other software to license the current word list that they use with Quackle, Zarf and other unlicensed applications (Aerolith, etc.), but such use is in violation of the copyright and not sanctioned by NASPA, Hasbro or Merriam-Webster.
== [[World SCRABBLE Championship]] ==