<p>To add to thesunneversets' answer:</p>

<p>The words allowed in Quiddler are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiddler#Allowable_words" rel="nofollow">those in a pre-agreed dictionary of the players' choice</a>.</p>

<p>Similarly for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrabble#Acceptable_words" rel="nofollow">Scrabble</a>, the players may agree on a dictionary.  However, there are also word lists compiled especially for Scrabble.  In (English language) tournaments in most countries, as well as for the World Scrabble Championship, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOWPODS" rel="nofollow">SOWPODS</a> is used. National tournaments in the USA, Canada and Thailand use <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tournament_Word_List" rel="nofollow">TWL</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-11-08T15:58:17.180Z
+1: It's far more important to agree on the dictionary than to know what dictionary the makers of the game like. Letters are letters; the game will work with any dictionary.
Cascabel
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-11-07T08:34:04.427Z
2011-11-07T08:34:04.427Z
tttppp
<p>Scrabble has an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Official_Scrabble_Players_Dictionary" rel="nofollow noreferrer">official dictionary (the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary)</a> to eliminate disputes of this kind.  It's <a href="https://scrabble.hasbro.com/en-us/tools" rel="nofollow noreferrer">available online on Hasbro's website</a>.</p>
<p>I'd recommend sticking to this for any word-based game (such as Quiddler) that does not specify an alternative authoritative dictionary in the rules.</p>
<hr />
<p>Note: &quot;sic&quot; is in the OSD 6th edition, but &quot;quo&quot; is not.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-31T17:38:32.293Z
2022-01-31T17:38:32.293Z
Zags
<p>The word legality rules of Quiddler appear to be slightly more relaxed than those of Scrabble - according to Wikipedia, capitalized adjectives such as "Iraqi" and "Scottish" are acceptable in Quiddler, where to the best of my knowledge they still aren't in Scrabble.</p>

<p>Archaic words, by contrast, have always been allowed in Scrabble.  Again per Wikipedia: </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"Variant spellings, slang or offensive terms, archaic or obsolete
  terms, and specialized jargon words are allowed if they meet all other
  criteria for acceptability."</p>
</blockquote>

<p>So I'd say they were definitely fair game for Quiddler too.  Having said all that, both Scrabble and Quiddler are games that lend themselves well to <em>house rules</em>.  If you're playing with your grandmother you're probably going to dial back on the offensive terms; likewise some people get so offended by the idea of allowing slang or archaisms that it can become easier just not to use them!</p>

<p>As a side note, the funny thing about "quo" is that I suspect most people try to use it as part of the phrase "status quo" - which would be a foreign phrase and therefore not acceptable!  But luckily your dictionary contains a legitimate form of it also.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-02-01T17:34:11.450Z
is status quo not english native by now? I mean loanwords are a thing.
paul23
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-11-07T08:00:13.897Z
2011-11-07T08:00:13.897Z
thesunneversets
<p>While playing Quiddler tonight, I played both words "SIC" and "QUO". Both got challenged and both were in the dictionary that we agreed upon (dictionary.com).</p>

<p>But the question of whether I can use "QUO" because the dictionary defined it as "Verb - Archaic: Quoth."</p>

<p>I said it's allowed because it's in the dictionary and used in common vernacular.</p>

<p>My opponent said I couldn't use archaic English words because they are no longer part of the English language.</p>

<p>Is this true for Quiddler? Scrabble?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-11-08T07:43:49.700Z
However, I highly suggest http://ninjawords.com/  instead of dictionary.com  Especially if you're playing something that wants obscure words like Balderdash.
Neal Tibrewala
<scrabble>
Am I allowed to use archaic words in Quiddler/Scrabble?
OghmaOsiris
# Am I allowed to use archaic words in Quiddler/Scrabble?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2011-11-07)

While playing Quiddler tonight, I played both words "SIC" and "QUO". Both got challenged and both were in the dictionary that we agreed upon (dictionary.com).

But the question of whether I can use "QUO" because the dictionary defined it as "Verb - Archaic: Quoth."

I said it's allowed because it's in the dictionary and used in common vernacular.

My opponent said I couldn't use archaic English words because they are no longer part of the English language.

Is this true for Quiddler? Scrabble?

**Tags:** scrabble

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: However, I highly suggest http://ninjawords.com/  instead of dictionary.com  Especially if you're playing something that wants obscure words like Balderdash.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2011-11-07. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

The word legality rules of Quiddler appear to be slightly more relaxed than those of Scrabble - according to Wikipedia, capitalized adjectives such as "Iraqi" and "Scottish" are acceptable in Quiddler, where to the best of my knowledge they still aren't in Scrabble.

Archaic words, by contrast, have always been allowed in Scrabble. Again per Wikipedia:

> "Variant spellings, slang or offensive terms, archaic or obsolete
> terms, and specialized jargon words are allowed if they meet all other
> criteria for acceptability."

So I'd say they were definitely fair game for Quiddler too. Having said all that, both Scrabble and Quiddler are games that lend themselves well to *house rules*. If you're playing with your grandmother you're probably going to dial back on the offensive terms; likewise some people get so offended by the idea of allowing slang or archaisms that it can become easier just not to use them!

As a side note, the funny thing about "quo" is that I suspect most people try to use it as part of the phrase "status quo" - which would be a foreign phrase and therefore not acceptable! But luckily your dictionary contains a legitimate form of it also.

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: is status quo not english native by now? I mean loanwords are a thing.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2011-11-07. Score: 4

To add to username_5' answer:

The words allowed in Quiddler are [those in a pre-agreed dictionary of the players' choice](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiddler#Allowable_words).

Similarly for [Scrabble](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrabble#Acceptable_words), the players may agree on a dictionary. However, there are also word lists compiled especially for Scrabble. In (English language) tournaments in most countries, as well as for the World Scrabble Championship, [SOWPODS](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOWPODS) is used. National tournaments in the USA, Canada and Thailand use [TWL](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tournament_Word_List).

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: +1: It's far more important to agree on the dictionary than to know what dictionary the makers of the game like. Letters are letters; the game will work with any dictionary.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2022-01-31. Score: 0

Scrabble has an [official dictionary (the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Official_Scrabble_Players_Dictionary) to eliminate disputes of this kind. It's [available online on Hasbro's website](https://scrabble.hasbro.com/en-us/tools).

I'd recommend sticking to this for any word-based game (such as Quiddler) that does not specify an alternative authoritative dictionary in the rules.

---

Note: "sic" is in the OSD 6th edition, but "quo" is not.


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