American Literacy Council
  Advocates for
  Simplified Spelling

English spelling is needlessly difficult.

Let's fix it.

English spelling is needlessly difficult.

  • 30 million adults in the United States (12%) cannot read or write above a third-grade level.

  • Our difficult spelling system wastes countless educational hours.

  • Poor reading and writing hinders learning and communicating in subsequent years.

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Let's fix it.

  • English spelling could be based on rules and phonetics.

  • Simplified spelling would greatly improve literacy and education.

  • Children would learn to read and write correctly at a much earlier age, accelerating learning in all other subjects.

A message from the President

English spelling is incredibly difficult, requiring many years of memorization to become proficient. At the same time, 30 million adults in the US cannot read or write above a third-grade level. The connection is obvious: difficult spelling hinders education and job opportunities.

For the past century, efforts at English spelling reform have failed because adults, who have already mastered complex spelling, don’t want to change. But now, the computer revolution provides the opportunity for a literacy revolution: everyone could choose between traditional spelling and a new simplified spelling system, on their own screens. Since the 1980s, the American Literacy Council has developed a simplified spelling system based on phonetics and rules, and which ‘makes sense’ - it can be read immediately by current English readers.

Our complex spelling system is self-imposed, and we, as a society, have the power to change it. Computers provide a tool to transition, without forcing new spelling on anyone. Sensible English spelling would greatly benefit future generations of children, as well as foreign speakers the world over. Spelling reform would free up years of valuable class time. Poor literacy is a huge problem, but noone ever talks about the fundamental cause of the problem, or how to fix it!

At the American Literacy Council, we are excited to share our ideas about how to reform English spelling! Please look at SoundSpel and see what you think!




A mesej frum th Prezident, in Soundspel!

Inglish speling is incredibly dificult, reqiering meny yeers of memorizaeshon to becum profishent. At th saem tiem, 30 milyon adults in th US cannot reed or riet abuv a thurd-graed level. Th conekshon is obvius: dificult speling hinders ejucaeshon and job oportuenitys.

For th past senchery, eforts at Inglish speling reform hav faeld becauz adults, hoo hav aulredy masterd complex speling, doen’t wont to chaenj. But now, th compueter revolooshon provieds th oportuenity for a literasy revolooshon: evrywun cuud chooz between tradishonal speling and a nue simplified speling sistem, on thaer oen screens. Sinss th 1980s, th Amerrican Literasy Counsil has developt a simplified speling sistem baest on fonetiks and rools, and which ‘maeks senss’ - it can be red imeediatly bi curent Inglish reeders.

Our complex speling sistem is self-impoezd, and we, as a sosieety, hav th power to chaenj it. Compueters provied a tool to tranzishon, without forsing nue speling on enywun. Sensibl Inglish speling wuud graetly benefit fuecher jeneraeshons of children, as wel as forin speekers th wurld oever. Speling reform wuud free up yeers of valueabl clas tiem. Puur literasy is a huej problem, but no-wun ever tauks about th fundamental cauz of th problem, or how to fix it!

At th Amerrican Literasy Counsil, we ar exsieted to shaer our iedeeas about how to reform Inglish speling! Pleez luuk at Soundspel and see whot U think!

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