What is invented spelling?

Invented spelling, also known as phonetic spelling or creative spelling, is a writing system where a child (or sometimes an adult) spells words based on their pronunciation rather than conventional spelling rules. It reflects the child's understanding of the sounds in the language.

For example, a child might spell "cat" as "kat" or "kæt," "because" as "becoz," or "enough" as "enuff." These spellings are not "incorrect" in the sense that they are logically consistent with the child's phonetic understanding. It's a developmental stage in literacy acquisition. Invented spelling is generally considered a positive sign, indicating that the child is actively trying to connect sounds with letters and is developing phonological awareness.