{"id":20368,"date":"2021-08-01T11:12:27","date_gmt":"2021-08-01T15:12:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/?p=20368"},"modified":"2023-12-27T11:35:32","modified_gmt":"2023-12-27T15:35:32","slug":"whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s the latest U.S. literacy rate?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Just 2% of global adults read at top level<\/h2>\n<p>Little confession here: I\u2019m a geek. While you\u2019re out partying on Saturday night, I\u2019m cuddled up with a warm study.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_26036\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26036\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"26036\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate.png\" data-orig-size=\"488,300\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Can they read you now? &lt;\/strong&gt;Half of Americans have basic or below-basic skills. &lt;em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.istockphoto.com\/photo\/newspaper-paper-strips-gm509293542-85692799&quot; rel=&quot;noopener noreferrer&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Image by Queensbury&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/em&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate-300x184.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate.png\" alt=\"U.S. literacy rate\" title=\"U.S. literacy rate\" width=\"488\" height=\"300\" class=\"size-full wp-image-26036 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate.png 488w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate-300x184.png 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 488px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 488\/300;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"26036\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate.png\" data-orig-size=\"488,300\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Can they read you now? &lt;\/strong&gt;Half of Americans have basic or below-basic skills. &lt;em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.istockphoto.com\/photo\/newspaper-paper-strips-gm509293542-85692799&quot; rel=&quot;noopener noreferrer&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Image by Queensbury&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/em&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate-300x184.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate.png\" alt=\"U.S. literacy rate\" title=\"U.S. literacy rate\" width=\"488\" height=\"300\" class=\"size-full wp-image-26036\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate.png 488w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate-300x184.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-26036\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Can they read you now? <\/strong>Half of Americans have basic or below-basic skills. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.istockphoto.com\/photo\/newspaper-paper-strips-gm509293542-85692799\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Image by Queensbury<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The latest object of my affection is the 2012 edition of the PIAAC, or Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies. (The name itself could not be understood by most of the people it surveyed!) <a href=\"#_ftn1\" name=\"_ftnref1\"><sup>[1]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The PIAAC is a huge, statistically significant study of adult literacy in developed countries. Every 10 years, the OECD (that\u2019s Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to us mortals) looks at the literacy skills of adults between 16 and 65.<\/p>\n<h5>The\u00a0average American\u00a0reads at the 7<sup>th- <\/sup>to 8<sup>th-<\/sup>grade level.<\/h5>\n<h6>\u2014 The Literacy Project <a href=\"#_ftn2\" name=\"_ftnref2\"><sup>[2]<\/sup><\/a><\/h6>\n<p>In the most recent study, what the researchers found was disheartening \u2026<\/p>\n<h3>4% are nonliterate.<\/h3>\n<p>Some 4% of Americans (global literacy rate: 3%) have Below Level 1 literacy. That means they are nonliterate. They can\u2019t read well enough to perform activities of daily living in a modern society \u2014 let alone to take a literacy test.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"24377\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/chart-1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-1.png\" data-orig-size=\"600,338\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"chart-1\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-1-300x169.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-1.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-1.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24377 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-1-300x169.png 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 600\/338;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"24377\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/chart-1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-1.png\" data-orig-size=\"600,338\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"chart-1\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-1-300x169.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-1.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" style=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-1.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24377\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-1-300x169.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Most of them can locate a single piece of information in familiar copy. But most of them cannot review a simple table identifying three candidates and the number of votes they received to identify which candidate earned the fewest votes.<\/p>\n<h3>14% have below-basic literacy levels.<\/h3>\n<p>14% of Americans (global literacy rate: 12%) have level 1 literacy. That means they can read and write at the below-basic level.<\/p>\n<p>Most of them can identify which candidate earned the fewest votes from a simple table identifying three candidates and the number of votes they received. Most cannot count the number of countries in which the generic drug market accounts for 10% or more of drug sales from two paragraphs and a chart of generic drug use in 15 countries.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"24378\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/chart-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-2.png\" data-orig-size=\"600,338\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"chart-2\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-2-300x169.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-2.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-2.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24378 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-2-300x169.png 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 600\/338;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"24378\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/chart-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-2.png\" data-orig-size=\"600,338\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"chart-2\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-2-300x169.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-2.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" style=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-2.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24378\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-2-300x169.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<h3>34% have basic literacy levels.<\/h3>\n<h5>Half of U.S. adults can\u2019t read a book written at the 8th-grade level.<\/h5>\n<h6>\u2014 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development <a href=\"#_ftn3\" name=\"_ftnref3\"><sup>[3]<\/sup><\/a><\/h6>\n<p>About one-third of Americans (global literacy rate: 34%) have Level 2 literacy. That means they have the ability to read and write at a basic level.<\/p>\n<p>Most can count the number of countries in which the generic drug market accounts for 10% or more of drug sales from two paragraphs and a chart of generic drug use in 15 countries. But most cannot identify the link leading to the organization\u2019s phone number from a website with several links, including \u201ccontact us\u201d and \u201cFAQ.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"24379\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/chart-3\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-3.png\" data-orig-size=\"600,338\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"chart-3\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-3-300x169.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-3.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-3.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24379 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-3.png 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-3-300x169.png 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 600\/338;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"24379\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/chart-3\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-3.png\" data-orig-size=\"600,338\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"chart-3\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-3-300x169.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-3.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" style=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-3.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24379\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-3.png 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-3-300x169.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Note that at this point, we have reached more than half of your audience members.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"24380\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/chart-4\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-4.png\" data-orig-size=\"600,338\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"chart-4\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-4-300x169.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-4.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-4.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24380 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-4.png 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-4-300x169.png 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 600\/338;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"24380\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/chart-4\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-4.png\" data-orig-size=\"600,338\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"chart-4\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-4-300x169.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-4.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" style=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-4.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24380\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-4.png 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-4-300x169.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>The people who manage this study are careful not to assign grade levels to these groups, but we can do a little correlating. Here\u2019s what we know:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Half of U.S. adults can\u2019t read a book written at the 8th-grade level, according to the OECD. <a href=\"#_ftn4\" name=\"_ftnref4\"><sup>[4]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\n<li>The\u00a0average American\u00a0reads at the 7th- to 8th-grade level, according to The Literacy Project. <a href=\"#_ftn5\" name=\"_ftnref5\"><sup>[5]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Medical information for the public should be written at no higher than an eighth-grade reading level, according to the American Medical Association, National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"24381\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/chart-5\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-5.png\" data-orig-size=\"600,338\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"chart-5\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-5-300x169.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-5.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-5.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24381 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-5.png 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-5-300x169.png 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 600\/338;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"24381\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/chart-5\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-5.png\" data-orig-size=\"600,338\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"chart-5\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-5-300x169.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-5.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" style=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-5.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24381\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-5.png 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-5-300x169.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>So let\u2019s estimate that the midline here is the break between 7<sup>th-<\/sup> and 8<sup>th<\/sup>-grade reading levels. That means half of U.S. adults read at the 7<sup>th<\/sup>-grade level and below, and half read at the 8<sup>th<\/sup>-grade level and above.<\/p>\n<h3>36% have intermediate literacy levels.<\/h3>\n<p>More than one-third of Americans (global literacy rate: 39%) have Level 3 literacy. That means they can read and write at an intermediate level.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"24382\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/chart-6\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-6.png\" data-orig-size=\"600,338\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"chart-6\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-6-300x169.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-6.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-6.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24382 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-6.png 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-6-300x169.png 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 600\/338;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"24382\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/chart-6\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-6.png\" data-orig-size=\"600,338\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"chart-6\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-6-300x169.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-6.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" style=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-6.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24382\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-6.png 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-6-300x169.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Most can identify the link leading to the organization\u2019s phone number from a website with several links, including \u201ccontact us\u201d and \u201cFAQ.\u201d But most cannot click to the second page of search results from a library website to identify the author of a book called\u00a0<em>Ecomyth<\/em>.<\/p>\n<h3>12% have proficient literacy levels.<\/h3>\n<p>Now we reach the cognitively elite: 12% of Americans (global literacy rate: 12%) have what is now called Level 4\/5 literacy. At Level 4, that means they can read and write at a proficient level.<\/p>\n<p>Most can click to the second page of search results from a library website to identify the author of a book called\u00a0<em>Ecomyth<\/em>. But most cannot review search results from a library website to identify a book suggesting that the claims made both for and against genetically modified foods are unreliable.<\/p>\n<p>If you write for these proficient readers, you\u2019ll miss 88% of adults in the United States.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"24383\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/chart-7\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-7.png\" data-orig-size=\"600,338\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"chart-7\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-7-300x169.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-7.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-7.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24383 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-7.png 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-7-300x169.png 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 600\/338;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"24383\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/chart-7\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-7.png\" data-orig-size=\"600,338\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"chart-7\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-7-300x169.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-7.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" style=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-7.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24383\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-7.png 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-7-300x169.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<h3>2% have high literacy levels.<\/h3>\n<p>This year, for the first time ever, PIAAC combined the fourth and fifth literacy levels. That\u2019s because there were no longer enough people at the highest level to count.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"24384\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/chart-8\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-8.png\" data-orig-size=\"600,338\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"chart-8\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-8-300x169.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-8.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-8.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24384 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-8.png 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-8-300x169.png 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 600\/338;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"24384\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/chart-8\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-8.png\" data-orig-size=\"600,338\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"chart-8\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-8-300x169.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-8.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" style=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-8.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24384\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-8.png 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chart-8-300x169.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>\u201cAcross all countries, only 2 percent of adults performed at Level 5 on many of the variables in the literacy and numeracy scales,\u201d researchers report. Because of the low number, these are included among the 12% in Level 4\/5.<\/p>\n<p>This is the only group that can identify from search results a book suggesting that the claims made both for and against genetically modified foods are unreliable.<\/p>\n<p>Write for these folks, and you\u2019ll miss 98% of your readers!<\/p>\n<h3>U.S. literary average: below-basic<\/h3>\n<p>Put it all together, and what do you get? Our average literacy score of 270 (global literacy rate: 273) out of 500 puts U.S. adults at Level 2, or below-basic, literacy.<\/p>\n<table border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"3\" class=\"pinktable\" style=\"background-color:#fff; width: 90%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"4\">\n<h5>U.S. literacy averages below basic<\/h5>\n<h6>Results of the 2013 PIAAC<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td style=\"width:15%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold;\">Literacy level\/score<\/td>\n<td style=\"width:19%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold;\">Percentage of U.S. adults 16+<\/td>\n<td style=\"width:28%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold;\">Skills<\/td>\n<td style=\"width:28%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold;\">Sample task<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width:15%; font-weight:bold;\">Below level 1 (Nonliterate)<br \/>\n<strong>0-225<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width:19%; text-align:center;\">4%<\/td>\n<td style=\"width:28%;\">Locate a single piece of information in familiar copy.<\/td>\n<td style=\"width:28%;\">Locate a single piece of information in familiar copy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td style=\"width:15%; font-weight:bold;\">Level 1<br \/>\nBelow basic<br \/>\n<strong>226-275<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width:19%; text-align:center;\">14%<\/td>\n<td style=\"width:28%;\">Read relatively short digital, print or mixed copy to locate a single piece of information.<\/td>\n<td style=\"width:28%;\">Review a simple table identifying three candidates and the number of votes they received to identify which candidate earned the fewest votes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width:15%; font-weight:bold;\">Level 2<br \/>\nBasic<br \/>\n<strong>276-325<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width:19%; text-align:center;\">34%<\/td>\n<td style=\"width:28%;\">Find information that may require low-level paraphrasing and drawing low-level inferences.<\/td>\n<td style=\"width:28%;\">Review two paragraphs and a chart of generic medicine usage in 15 countries to count the number of countries in which the generic drug market accounts for 10% or more of drug sales<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td style=\"width:15%; font-weight:bold;\">Level 3<br \/>\nIntermediate<br \/>\n<strong>326-375<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width:19%; text-align:center;\">36%<\/td>\n<td style=\"width:28%;\">Identify, interpret or evaluate one or more pieces of information that require inference.<\/td>\n<td style=\"width:28%;\">Review a website with several links, including &#8220;contact us&#8221; and &#8220;FAQ&#8221; and identify the link leading to the organization&#8217;s phone number<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width:15%; font-weight:bold;\">Level 4<br \/>\nProficient<br \/>\n<strong>376-500<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width:19%; text-align:center;\">10%<\/td>\n<td style=\"width:28%;\">Perform multiple-step operations to integrate, interpret or synthesize information from complex texts, which may require complex inferences.<\/td>\n<td style=\"width:28%;\">Click to the second page of search results from a library website to identify the author of a book called <em>Ecomyth.<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td style=\"width:15%; font-weight:bold;\">Level 5<\/td>\n<td style=\"width:19%; text-align:center;\">2%<\/td>\n<td style=\"width:28%;\">Integrate information across multiple dense texts; construct syntheses, ideas or points of view; or evaluate evidence-based arguments.<\/td>\n<td style=\"width:28%;\">Identify from search results a book suggesting that the claims made both for and against genetically modified foods are unreliable<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>That places the U.S. overall literacy score at lower than the international average. But note that Japan and Finland, at the top of the list, have nothing to brag about.<\/p>\n<div class=\"excerptbox\" style=\"border: 1px solid black;\">\n<h5>U.S. literacy averages below basic<\/h5>\n<h6>Results of the 2013 PIAAC<\/h6>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"24358\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/go-up-in-the-world\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/go-up-in-the-world.png\" data-orig-size=\"800,1024\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"go-up-in-the-world\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/go-up-in-the-world-234x300.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/go-up-in-the-world-703x900.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24358 lazyload\" title=\"Go up in the world\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/go-up-in-the-world.png\" alt=\"Go up in the world\" width=\"800\" height=\"1024\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/go-up-in-the-world.png 800w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/go-up-in-the-world-234x300.png 234w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/go-up-in-the-world-703x900.png 703w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/go-up-in-the-world-768x983.png 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 800px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 800\/1024;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"24358\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/go-up-in-the-world\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/go-up-in-the-world.png\" data-orig-size=\"800,1024\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"go-up-in-the-world\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/go-up-in-the-world-234x300.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/go-up-in-the-world-703x900.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24358\" title=\"Go up in the world\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/go-up-in-the-world.png\" alt=\"Go up in the world\" width=\"800\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/go-up-in-the-world.png 800w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/go-up-in-the-world-234x300.png 234w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/go-up-in-the-world-703x900.png 703w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/go-up-in-the-world-768x983.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>In this environment, how well are we doing reaching these folks with our blog posts, intranet stories or email newsletters?<\/p>\n<p>As George Bernard Shaw wrote:<\/p>\n<h5 class=\"standalone\">\u201cThe problem with communication is the illusion that it has been accomplished.\u201d<\/h5>\n<h3>Learn more<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/writing-tips\/readability\/\"><strong>Reach all of your readers<\/strong><\/a>, even those with low literacy<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/why-is-readability-important-to-your-readers\/\">Readability helps everyone<\/a><\/strong>, even highly literate people<\/li>\n<li>Get more data from the <a href=\"https:\/\/nces.ed.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>National Center for Education Statistics<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Get more information about national assessment, levels of literacy, the literacy gap, how literacy rates vary among high school students and those ages 15 and under, and English literacy among foreign-born adults from the <a href=\"https:\/\/nces.ed.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>National Center for Education Statistics<\/strong><\/a>, part of the U.S. Department of Education.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref1\" name=\"_ftn1\"><sup>[1]<\/sup><\/a> \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/30SdLYh\">Literacy, Numeracy, and Problem Solving in Technology-Rich Environments Among U.S. Adults: Results from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies 2012<\/a>,\u201d Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies, or PIAAC<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref2\" name=\"_ftn2\"><sup>[2]<\/sup><\/a> Lisa Marchand, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/centerforplainlanguage.org\/what-is-readability\/\">What is readability and why should content editors care about it<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/centerforplainlanguage.org\/what-is-readability\/\">?<\/a>\u201d Center for Plain Language, March 22, 2017<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref3\" name=\"_ftn3\"><sup>[3]<\/sup><\/a> Valerie Strauss, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/news\/answer-sheet\/wp\/2016\/11\/01\/hiding-in-plain-sight-the-adult-literacy-crisis\/?noredirect=on\">Hiding in plain sight: The adult literacy crisis<\/a>,\u201d <em>Washington Post, <\/em>Nov. 1, 2016<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref4\" name=\"_ftn4\"><sup>[4]<\/sup><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/news\/answer-sheet\/wp\/2016\/11\/01\/hiding-in-plain-sight-the-adult-literacy-crisis\/?noredirect=on\">Strauss<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref5\" name=\"_ftn5\"><sup>[5]<\/sup><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/centerforplainlanguage.org\/what-is-readability\/\">Marchand<\/a><\/p>\n<div id='MMC-Clear' class='widgets_on_page wop_tiny1  wop_small1  wop_medium1  wop_large1  wop_wide1'>\n\t\t\t<ul><li id=\"custom_html-81\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html\"><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><a title=\"Clear-writing workshop, a mini master class\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/corporate-communications-training\/mini-master-classes-home\/clear-writing-course\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/clear-writing-training-mmc.png\" alt=\"Clear-writing workshop, a mini master class\" title=\"Clear-writing workshop, a mini master class\" width=\"auto\" height=\"auto\" border=\"0\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 250px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 250\/250;float:left; text-align:left; margin: 0 auto; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-size: 18x; line-height: 22px; padding: 0px; color: #FFFFFF; max-width:100%; max-height:100%;\" class=\"img-max lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/clear-writing-training-mmc.png\" alt=\"Clear-writing workshop, a mini master class\" title=\"Clear-writing workshop, a mini master class\" width=\"auto\" height=\"auto\" border=\"0\" style=\"float:left; text-align:left; margin: 0 auto; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-size: 18x; line-height: 22px; padding: 0px; color: #FFFFFF; max-width:100%; max-height:100%;\" class=\"img-max\"><\/noscript><\/a><h3>Reach more readers with tight writing<\/h3>\r\n\t\r\n<p>Would your piece be twice as good if it were half as long? Yes, say readability experts.<\/p>\r\n\t\r\n<p>So how long should your message be? Your paragraphs? Your sentences? Your words? What reading ease level should you hit?<\/p>\r\n\t\r\n<p>Learn how to write clearer, more concise messages at our <a title=\"Clear-writing workshop, a mini master class\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/corporate-communications-training\/mini-master-classes-home\/clear-writing-course\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>clear-writing course<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"btn btn--depth\" style=\"text-align: center;  margin: 10px 0 20px; width:100%;\"><a id=\"btnTT\" style=\"\" title=\"BOOK NOW\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/corporate-communications-training\/mini-master-classes-home\/clear-writing-course\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-width=\"91\">BOOK NOW<\/a>\r\n<!-- [if mso]>\r\n<p style=\"line-height:0;margin:0;\"><v:roundrect xmlns:v=\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/corporate-communications-training\/mini-master-classes-home\/clear-writing-course\/\" style=\"width:153px\" arcsize=\"8%\" strokecolor=\"#D96237\" filled=\"t\"><v:fill type=\"gradient\" angle=\"180\" color=\"#f16522\" color2=\"#f16522\"><\/v:fill><v:textbox style=\"mso-fit-shape-to-text:t\" inset=\"0px,11px,0px,11px\"><center style=\"font-size:16px;line-height:24px;color:#FFFFFF;font-family:sans-serif;font-weight:bold;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;mso-text-raise:4px\">BOOK NOW<\/center><\/v:textbox><\/v:roundrect><\/p>\r\n<![endif]--><\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><!-- widgets_on_page -->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Just 2% of global adults read at top level<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":26036,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[152],"tags":[500,501],"class_list":{"0":"post-20368","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-literacy-rates","8":"tag-literacy-rates","9":"tag-piaac","10":"entry"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v23.4 (Yoast SEO v23.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What\u2019s the latest U.S. literacy rate?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Can they read you now? Half of Americans have basic or below-basic skills.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What\u2019s the latest U.S. literacy rate?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Can they read you now? Half of Americans have basic or below-basic skills.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Wylie Communications, Inc.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/WylieCommunications\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ann.wylie.33\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-08-01T15:12:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-12-27T15:35:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/u-s-literacy-rate-fb.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Ann Wylie\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"What\u2019s the latest U.S. literacy rate?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Can they read you now? Half of Americans have basic or below-basic skills.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/us-literacy-rate-tw.png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@AnnWylie\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@AnnWylie\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Ann Wylie\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Ann Wylie\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#\/schema\/person\/85f5e705a38c31f4a0c59c982a66ce5e\"},\"headline\":\"What\u2019s the latest U.S. literacy rate?\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-08-01T15:12:27+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-12-27T15:35:32+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/\"},\"wordCount\":1358,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate.png\",\"keywords\":[\"literacy rates\",\"PIAAC\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Literacy rates\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/\",\"name\":\"What\u2019s the latest U.S. literacy rate?\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-08-01T15:12:27+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-12-27T15:35:32+00:00\",\"description\":\"Can they read you now? Half of Americans have basic or below-basic skills.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate.png\",\"width\":488,\"height\":300,\"caption\":\"Can they read you now? Half of Americans have basic or below-basic skills. Image by Queensbury\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Writing and editing\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/category\/writing-and-editing\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Concise Writing\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/category\/writing-and-editing\/concise-writing-tips\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"Literacy rates\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/category\/writing-and-editing\/concise-writing-tips\/literacy-rates\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":5,\"name\":\"What\u2019s the latest U.S. literacy rate?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/\",\"name\":\"Wylie Communications, Inc.\",\"description\":\"Writing workshops, communication consulting and writing services\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Wylie Communications Inc.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/wylie_new_logo-300.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/wylie_new_logo-300.png\",\"width\":300,\"height\":300,\"caption\":\"Wylie Communications Inc.\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/WylieCommunications\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/AnnWylie\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/wyliecomm\/\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/wylie-communications-inc-\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/wyliecomminc\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#\/schema\/person\/85f5e705a38c31f4a0c59c982a66ce5e\",\"name\":\"Ann Wylie\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/160508f95c61ef464936ccf823a20963?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/160508f95c61ef464936ccf823a20963?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Ann Wylie\"},\"description\":\"Ann Wylie runs a company called Wylie Communications Inc. She works with communicators who want to reach more readers and with organizations that want to get the word out.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ann.wylie.33\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/AnnWylie\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What\u2019s the latest U.S. literacy rate?","description":"Can they read you now? Half of Americans have basic or below-basic skills.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"What\u2019s the latest U.S. literacy rate?","og_description":"Can they read you now? Half of Americans have basic or below-basic skills.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/","og_site_name":"Wylie Communications, Inc.","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/WylieCommunications","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ann.wylie.33","article_published_time":"2021-08-01T15:12:27+00:00","article_modified_time":"2023-12-27T15:35:32+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":630,"url":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/u-s-literacy-rate-fb.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Ann Wylie","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"What\u2019s the latest U.S. literacy rate?","twitter_description":"Can they read you now? Half of Americans have basic or below-basic skills.","twitter_image":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/us-literacy-rate-tw.png","twitter_creator":"@AnnWylie","twitter_site":"@AnnWylie","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Ann Wylie","Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/"},"author":{"name":"Ann Wylie","@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#\/schema\/person\/85f5e705a38c31f4a0c59c982a66ce5e"},"headline":"What\u2019s the latest U.S. literacy rate?","datePublished":"2021-08-01T15:12:27+00:00","dateModified":"2023-12-27T15:35:32+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/"},"wordCount":1358,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate.png","keywords":["literacy rates","PIAAC"],"articleSection":["Literacy rates"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/","url":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/","name":"What\u2019s the latest U.S. literacy rate?","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate.png","datePublished":"2021-08-01T15:12:27+00:00","dateModified":"2023-12-27T15:35:32+00:00","description":"Can they read you now? Half of Americans have basic or below-basic skills.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate.png","width":488,"height":300,"caption":"Can they read you now? Half of Americans have basic or below-basic skills. Image by Queensbury"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2021\/08\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Writing and editing","item":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/category\/writing-and-editing\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Concise Writing","item":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/category\/writing-and-editing\/concise-writing-tips\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Literacy rates","item":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/category\/writing-and-editing\/concise-writing-tips\/literacy-rates\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":5,"name":"What\u2019s the latest U.S. literacy rate?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/","name":"Wylie Communications, Inc.","description":"Writing workshops, communication consulting and writing services","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#organization","name":"Wylie Communications Inc.","url":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/wylie_new_logo-300.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/wylie_new_logo-300.png","width":300,"height":300,"caption":"Wylie Communications Inc."},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/WylieCommunications","https:\/\/x.com\/AnnWylie","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/wyliecomm\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/wylie-communications-inc-","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/wyliecomminc\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#\/schema\/person\/85f5e705a38c31f4a0c59c982a66ce5e","name":"Ann Wylie","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/160508f95c61ef464936ccf823a20963?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/160508f95c61ef464936ccf823a20963?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Ann Wylie"},"description":"Ann Wylie runs a company called Wylie Communications Inc. She works with communicators who want to reach more readers and with organizations that want to get the word out.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ann.wylie.33","https:\/\/x.com\/AnnWylie"]}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4rlSw-5iw","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20368"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20368"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20368\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26036"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20368"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20368"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20368"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}