THE MOST POPULAR «GENERAL FROM THE ORTHOGRAPHY»

The paper is concerned with positive and negative features of Academician Grot’s Spelling manual noted in the debates on the border of the XIX–ХХ cent., and reflection of these debates in fiction of its time; significance of the manual is noted in the following spelling activity; the thought of its importance for restriction of spelling liberty of preceding period is stated. It is accepted as guidance which gave official status to Russian orthography, as the work promoting development of scientific thought. It served a decisive argument for the reform which eliminated many incongruities of Russian spelling. Code 1956 and the Spelling reference book of 2006 are considered as continuation of the Academician’s activity. Such gap in social consciousness of native speakers as identification of language and spelling, spelling and grammar notions is stressed. Necessity of linguistic enlightenment among Russian native speakers is affirmed.