"Bases para a unificação da ortografia que deve ser adoptada nas escolas e publicações oficiais" is a scientific publication written in the early 20th century. The work discusses the necessity of establishing a uniform orthography in Portugal to address the inconsistencies and confusion in the current spellings found in official publications. The document outlines the proposals put forth by a commission appointed by the government to simplify and regularize Portuguese orthography for educational and official purposes. At the start of the text, the author introduces the pressing issue of orthographic inconsistency in Portuguese publications, highlighting the chaos that arises from varying spellings used by different individuals. The author argues that this anarchy can harm the credibility of the press and create financial burdens. The commission’s recommendations include adopting a simplified orthographic system to promote ease of learning and standardize official documents, drawing upon the work of notable linguist Gonçalves Viana as a basis for these reforms. The beginning establishes a clear roadmap for addressing the complexities of Portuguese spelling, setting the stage for further detailed discussions on orthographic rules.