Most American parents consider the ability to write well vital for their children’s success, but many are concerned about declining skill levels, says a national survey commissioned by Pew and the National Commission on Writing. Eight in ten parents and 86 per cent of teenagers believe the ability to write well plays a major role in guaranteeing success later in life, says the survey, which appeared today.The Pew Internet & American Life Project and the National Commission on Writing conducted the national survey by phone of 700 people aged 12-17 and their parents last November. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 per cent. The National Commission on Writing for America’s Families, Schools and Colleges was set up in September 2002 amid concerns about the quality of writing in the United States. Have writing skills improved much in six years?