Reliance on sub-lexical and lexical spelling routes across adulthood

Lexicality effects and error type can indicate whether spelling relies on sub-lexical or lexical routes. We used non-words and words to examine spelling strategies across adulthood. Forty younger (mean age 24.70), 41 middle age (mean age 49.00), and 40 older adults (mean age 73.83) spelled 36 non-words that consisted of existing morphemes and 36 real words. Coding distinguished between homophonic errors in target letters, non-homophonic errors (e.g., letter substitution, insertion, transposition, or omission), and whole word substitution errors. Older adults demonstrated the largest lexicality effect, with the greatest difference between non-words and words. In addition, younger adults made more homophonic errors, fewer non-homophonic errors, and fewer word substitution errors than did older adults. The findings provide evidence for a greater reliance on the sub-lexical spelling route in younger age, as well as for a greater reliance on the lexical spelling route in older age.