Reforming English Spelling

The English Spelling Society, founded in 1908, has renewed its commitment to reforming English spelling despite a century of limited progress. Author Anatoly Liberman, the Society's president, argues that spelling reform is more urgent than ever as English serves as a global language, and proposes a "minimalist program" that gradually eliminates unnecessary letters (such as the 'm' in community or 'c' in miscellany) to avoid alienating literate populations resistant to sweeping changes. The Society will now broaden its focus beyond spelling to address literacy more comprehensively, recognizing that despite higher global literacy rates, fewer people read books, particularly among digitally-focused younger generations.