Letter: The use of ABC

Sir: One would have hoped that the teacher of Peter Lockwood's friend (letter, 7 January) would have explained to him that it doesn't matter what order the letters of the alphabet are in, as long as the order is standardised, and that he knows it.

Otherwise he would have difficulty using a telephone directory or a dictionary.

Years ago I met a 10-year-old with exactly this problem. He had been taught to read by the "look and say" method, but had never been taught the alphabet.

Dr DAVID ZUCK

London N12