== 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: [[SSWLNASPA School Word List]] for school play, [[OTCWLNASPA Word List]] 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 the [[Official SCRABBLE Players Dictionary]] (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 Zthe [[NASPA Word List]] (NWL).# <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 reentered the lexicon as of OTCWL2014in 2014, because it is was listed in one of our new source lexica.# <span class=q> Why is a particular word in [[OTCWLNWL]] but not in [[OSPD]]? </span><br /> Although both OTCWL NWL 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 NWL 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> Where can I buy a copy of the Official Tournament and Club [[NASPA Word List ]] (OTCWLNWL)? </span><br />You can buy it at the [[NASPA Store]] online.# <span class=q> A new [[OSPD]] was released in September 2018. When will the next version of [[OTCWL]] be available? </span><br />It usually takes 3 to 6 months to integrate OSPD changes into the OTCWL. So it will be early in 2019 at the earliest before the new OTCWL goes into effect for NASPA competition. Click [http://www.icontact-archive.com/-eBE1BTTRFaArP3qIeNvGMRx3Zbupp4b?w=4 here] for more information.# <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]] 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, EliseUlu, ...? </span><br /> We are not aware of any plans by Software developers can license the developers NASPA Word List. Click [[Software |here]] to see a list of other licensed applications. If you are a software to license developer, you can find out about the current word listlicensing options [[Licensing |here]].
== [[World SCRABBLE Championship]] ==