Scrabble is a popular board game in which players use lettered tiles to form words on a game board. A key aspect of Scrabble is its official dictionary which determines whether a word is valid or not. This leads to an interesting question – is the possessive form of God, “God’s”, a valid Scrabble word that players can use?
Quick answer: Yes, “God’s” is considered a valid word in Scrabble gameplay. It can be used by players and is found in the Official Scrabble Player’s Dictionary.
The question of whether “God’s” is allowed in Scrabble relates to the game’s official word lists, ownership, trademark, and evolution over the decades. To understand this fully, it is helpful to dive into some background on Scrabble’s dictionary, scoring for possessive words, and the authority governing official gameplay.
Background on Scrabble’s Dictionary
Scrabble was invented in 1938 by Alfred Mosher Butts and initially sold under the name Criss Cross Words. Since its early beginnings, a critical part of the game has been its accompanying dictionary of allowed words. Over the years this official dictionary has evolved through different publishers and editions.
Here is a quick history of Scrabble’s official dictionary timeline:
- In 1953, James Brunot acquired the rights to Criss Cross Words and renamed it Scrabble.
- The first SCRABBLE® Brand Crossword Game Dictionary was published in 1976 by Merriam-Webster and contained around 60,000 words.
- In 1978, the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary (OSPD) was created, published by Merriam-Webster, and became the official word reference used in clubs and tournaments.
- The OSPD has been updated and released in new editions several times over the decades. The current 5th edition was released in 2014 and contains around 100,000 words.
The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary (OSPD) is the most authoritative reference for Scrabble rules and gameplay in English-speaking countries. This dictionary contains short word listings and is optimized for the look ups needed in Scrabble games. The inclusion or exclusion of words in the OSPD decides whether they are valid moves in a Scrabble match.
Possessive Words in the Dictionary
Possessive words, like “God’s”, are allowed in Scrabble provided they appear in the OSPD. There are a couple general guidelines around possessives:
- The possessive form of nouns is allowed if the root noun is allowed. For example, if “God” is in the dictionary, then “God’s” is valid.
- Possessive words must follow standard grammatical rules. For example, “gods'” would not be valid.
- As with other words, the possessive must be spelled correctly. If the root word has multiple spellings, each variation also applies to the possessive (e.g. “dog’s” and “dog’s”).
Adhering to these rules, if a possessive word form appears in the OSPD, players can use it in their game. “God’s” follows standard grammar rules and is the possessive of an allowed root word.
Scoring Points for Possessives
Using possessive words like “God’s” in Scrabble provides opportunities to score points much like any other word. Here are some key rules around scoring possessives:
- Possessive words score points in the same way as their root. Any bonuses or premium squares apply.
- Blank tiles may be used to represent the apostrophe in a possessive. This blank would have the point value of a regular letter.
- The apostrophe itself has no point value.
- Longer possessive words earn more points. “God’s” would score 5 points (4 letters + blank) while “mother-in-law’s” would score 15 points (12 letters + blank).
Proper nouns like “God” can be particularly strategic since long possessive versions can be formed from short root words. This allows players to lay down more tiles and score more points.
Governing Authority for the Dictionary
The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary is owned, authored, and published by Merriam-Webster which serves as the official word source and governing authority for Scrabble in English-speaking locales.
Important facts about Merriam-Webster’s role include:
- Merriam-Webster has been the official dictionary partner for Scrabble since the game’s early days in the 1950s.
- They are responsible for deciding which words are included or excluded when new editions of the OSPD are developed.
- Editors and experts at Merriam-Webster research new words and usage to determine valid Scrabble words.
- They work in conjunction with the North American Scrabble Players Association (NASPA) for guidance on game play rules and dictionary policies.
- Trademark and royalty relationships allow Merriam-Webster to be the sole authority on Scrabble’s word list.
This governance by Merriam-Webster editors provides consistency and fairness around what words can be played during a Scrabble match, including possession words like “God’s”.
Is “God’s” in the Scrabble Dictionary?
With an understanding of how Scrabble dictionaries work, we can now definitively answer whether or not “God’s” is included.
The answer is yes, “God’s” is listed as a valid word in the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary (OSPD) and can be played in a Scrabble game.
Here are some key facts around “God’s” and Scrabble:
- The root word “God” is listed in the OSPD so its possessive form “God’s” is allowed.
- “God’s” follows standard grammar rules for possessive nouns.
- It is spelled correctly with the apostrophe to denote possession.
- Merriam-Webster lexicographers have determined “God’s” should be included based on usage and research.
- There are no exceptions or house rules that exclude the word.
In summary, players can confidently play “God’s” and score points like any other valid word in the dictionary. Of course, it’s always smart to double check the latest OSPD if any doubts arise during a game.
Strategies for Playing “God’s” in Scrabble
Now that it’s clear “God’s” is allowed in Scrabble, some strategies can ensure you play it in the most high value way:
- Play on a premium square for more points. The center square H8 scores triple word value.
- Play parallel to an existing word to create two new words for more points.
- Hook it on an S, forming words like GODS or DOGS.
- Concentrate on the bonus squares you have left near the end of the game.
- Watch out for openings to play longer possessive versions like MOTHER-IN-LAW’S across two triple word scores.
The example below demonstrates how “God’s” could score 12 points when played parallel to the existing word “bench” by hooking on the S and forming a new vertical word “gods”:
| B | E | N | C | H |
| G | O | D | S |
This table visualizes how playing “God’s” in this way would score:
| Word | Score |
|---|---|
| GODS | 12 points |
As with any short word, look for ways to maximize the score by strategic placement. A few extra points here and there from “God’s” could make the difference between winning and losing!
Challenging “God’s” in Competitive Play
In tournament or competitive environments, some players may want to challenge the validity of “God’s” hoping to disqualify it. However, they are unlikely to succeed. Here is why an objection would fail:
- The word is firmly included in the OSPD so cannot be challenged based on dictionary grounds.
- There are no house rules in Scrabble prohibiting the use of possessive words or proper nouns.
- The grammatical formation of “God’s” is sound and unimpeachable.
- Historical precedent has allowed “God’s” to be played without controversy.
- Scrabble’s governing authority, Merriam-Webster, determines dictionary content not players.
Barring any changes by the OSPD editors in future editions, “God’s” is set to remain an approved word for Scrabble play. Any challenges or objections to it would be quickly dismissed in tournament play.
House Rules Could Potentially Ban “God’s”
While “God’s” cannot be banned officially from the Scrabble dictionary, some private Scrabble groups adopt house rules modifying dictionary content.
Here are examples of house rules that could ban or alter usage of “God’s”:
- Prohibiting all religious words – This would restrict words referencing deities or theology.
- Excluding proper nouns – This would disallow direct names like people, places, products, etc.
- Custom word lists – A group could vote to simply remove “God’s” from their allowed word list.
- Foreign language play – Some groups play Scrabble in other languages with different dictionary versions.
These house rules are contained to each private group and would not impact official tournament play with the full OSPD word list. But it does demonstrate how some groups take liberties with dictionaries and create custom banned words.
Groups should carefully consider if such exclusions promote their intended aims or if they are ultimately petty and divisive. Broader policies around grammar classes or word lengths may be less controversial. The spirit of Scrabble is creativity, vocabulary and strategy using the richness of language.
Online Scrabble Sources May Vary
When playing Scrabble online, such as on sites like Scrabble GO or apps like Words With Friends, the dictionary source can differ from the official OSPD used in in-person games.
This means policies on words like “God’s” can vary:
- Some online Scrabble games allow all words regardless of dictionaries. This would permit “God’s”.
- Games drawing from non-OSPD word lists may or may not include “God’s”.
- Developers of an app or site may ban religious words like “God” altogether.
- Online games are often more flexible about proper nouns than the OSPD.
- Chat functions on games provide ways for players to debate word validity.
The takeaway is “God’s” remains firmly established for in-person OSPD Scrabble. But players should review word lists and rules for specific online games to understand if deviations exist.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “God’s” is permitted as a valid Scrabble word that can be played in games. Key facts supporting this include:
- The word is listed in the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary published by Merriam-Webster.
- It follows the rules for properly formed possessive words.
- There are no restrictions against religious terms or proper nouns in Scrabble’s dictionary.
- Challenges to the word would not stand up in competitive tournament play.
- Some private house rules could potentially exclude “God’s” but it remains officially sanctioned.
- Policies may vary in some online Scrabble games with different word source policies.
With a properly played “God’s” able to score over 10 points, players should strongly consider adding it to their Scrabble vocabulary. Just be sure to check dictionary rules if questions ever arise in the heat of a game’s competition!
