> [..] as a lack of proficiency on the PIAAC, an internationally validated literacy exam. Adults who score below Level 3 for literacy are not considered proficient and are defined as at least partially illiterate in this study. Adults below or at Level-1 literacy may struggle to understand texts beyond filling out basic forms. Drawing inferences or combining multiple sources of texts is likely too difficult. Adults at Level 2 can read well enough to evaluate product reviews and perform other tasks that require comparisons and simple inferences, but they are unlikely to correctly evaluate the reliability of texts or draw sophisticated inferences. Adults at Level 3 and above are considered fully literate in this study. They can reliably evaluate sources, as well as infer sophisticated meaning and complex ideas from written sources.

In other words, it seems like the headline has been sensationalised; if half of the US has a level 3 literacy, I'd say they're not doing too bad at all.

[0] https://www.barbarabush.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BBFou...

I'm astonished at this POV. When I read that more than half of the country is "unlikely to correctly evaluate the reliability of texts," I see this as evidence that we are indeed doing "too bad."

I suppose this is a textbook glass half full vs glass half empty situation.

I had a classmate in high-school who always got liw marks in the language classes due to spelling errors.

I worked with him on a group project once, and had to correct tons of words which were jumbled up. But apart from that his wprk was very good.

Was years later until I realized he must have had dyslexia.

So yea, that's one way "poor writing skill" might not be an indicator for anything else.

So I wouldn't stress about your spelling in this context