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I'm ideally looking for a single word adjective with an -al suffix. i.e. similar to 'verbal', and 'visual' but that relates to written communications rather than spoken or illustrative communications. Does such a word exist?

I'm trying to create a bit of wordplay about different communication methods.

Thank you!

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    verbal is more ambiguous than oral for spoken communications, as it can simply mean using words
    – Henry
    Commented May 16, 2016 at 22:36
  • @Henry oral can mean spoken, by mouth, or pertaining to the mouth, but never means simply using (unspoken) words.
    – John Factorial
    Commented May 17, 2016 at 18:46
  • @JohnFactorial: I do not think we disagree
    – Henry
    Commented May 17, 2016 at 19:02

3 Answers 3

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One normally uses textual to indicate that something is written, for text is normally written.

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You could try 'scribal' - of or relating to a scribe... 'Scriptal' does not, unfortunately, seem to exist!

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    Adding a source for the meaning of scribal would strengthen this answer.
    – Nathaniel is protesting
    Commented May 16, 2016 at 17:01
  • From Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (10th ed.)
    – user175507
    Commented May 16, 2016 at 17:05
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Literal means 'pertaining to letters of the alphabet.'

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    And of course alphabetical
    – Jim
    Commented May 16, 2016 at 16:31
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    Two completely correct answers that would utterly mislead the reader if used. :-)
    – DJClayworth
    Commented May 16, 2016 at 16:55
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    @DJClayworth true! Everyone uses 'literal' in the figurative sense now, to mean 'in actual fact'. :)
    – Steve Cooper
    Commented May 16, 2016 at 16:57
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    Most people use 'literally' to mean 'metaphorically' :-)
    – DJClayworth
    Commented May 16, 2016 at 16:59
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    What do you think is the meaning of 'literally' in that sentence? 'Metaphorically' would fit right in.
    – DJClayworth
    Commented May 17, 2016 at 3:14

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