functional literacy
Usable reading ability
Functional literacy is the ability to read and write well enough to handle everyday tasks—filling out forms, following written instructions, understanding bills and notices.
It's distinguished from basic literacy (simple decoding of words) and full literacy (engaging with complex texts).
Someone can be literate but not functionally literate if they struggle with practical documents: Many adults have functional literacy gaps that make navigating bureaucracy difficult.
- numeracyAbility with figures
- spelling accuracyWriting words properly
- reading comprehensionUnderstanding written material
- phonicsSound-based reading instruction
- vocabulary buildingExpanding known words
adult education · sentence structure · plain English · critical thinking · form filling · job application · documents · map reading · grammar usage · handwriting · navigate · online safety · decode · civic participation · everyday · forms · bus schedule · survival
- literacyreading, spelling, alphabet, writing, vocabulary
- literacies
- Basic Educationelementary school, primary school, grade school, kindergarten, preschool
- reading skillsvocabulary, decoding, grammar, fluency, comprehension
functional literacyfunctional illiteracy
Inadequate reading for daily life
illiteracy · innumeracy · low literacy · semiliteracy · mastery