<P> Functional illiteracy is imprecisely defined , with different criteria from nation to nation , and study to study . However , a useful distinction can be made between pure illiteracy and functional illiteracy . Purely illiterate persons can not read or write in any capacity , for all practical purposes . In contrast , functionally illiterate persons can read and possibly write simple sentences with a limited vocabulary , but can not read or write well enough to deal with the everyday requirements of life in their own society . </P>
an illiterate person can also be called as
Purely illiterate persons can not read or write in any capacity functionally illiterate persons can read and possibly write simple sentences with a limited vocabulary , but can not read or write well enough to deal with the everyday requirements of life