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Semiliterate: An adjective describing the state of being only partially or poorly literate. A semiliterate individual may struggle with reading, but their partial literacy is particularly evident in their writing. Using slang is not itself a sign of being semiliterate, but knowing only the slang definitions of many words may be. Consistently using the wrong spelling of similar-sounding words such as "their", "there", and "they're" is another common sign of poor literacy skills. Perhaps the most frustrating sign of semiliteracy is the use of 'netspeak' or 'txt-speak', wherein the writer abbreviates short and simple words for no reason beyond laziness.
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