A readability checker helps ensure that your writing isn’t too simplified or too complex for your readers. By giving you an approximate grade level or readability score, you can ensure that your content is easily understood by your target audience and that they’re getting the most value possible out of the information you’re sharing.
There is no “one size fits all” readability score. Different readability formulas work best with different types of content. Some are tuned toward educational content and grade levels while others are designed for more technical writing.
The “prevailing wisdom” is WRONG about the reading score you should aim at for Google.
Knowing how your content or writing ranks on a readability index helps make your content more visually digestible to your readers. Resulting in content that is able to be understood and acted upon.
Good readability also keeps the search engines coming back for more and sites with a good readability score tend to rank better than those who do not. See our study on search engine ranking and readability.
From Flesch Kincaid Grade Level, the Automated readability Index, the Coleman Liau Index, Gunning Fog, to everywhere in between, our readability checker analyzes your writing across a number of readability checkers, including:
The Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease formula is designed to assess the readability of a text by examining the average sentence length and syllables per word. Higher scores indicate easier to read text, This formula is a very popular tool for evaluate content accessibility.
RE = 206.835 – (1.015 x ASL) – (84.6 x ASW)
Where RE is Reading Ease, ASL is the average sentence length, and ASW is the average number of syllables per word.
An extension of the reading ease formula. The Flesch Kincaid Grade Level translates the reading ease score to the equivalent U.S. school grade level. This enables authors to gauge the complexity of their writing for a specific audience, ensuring clear communication.
GL = (0.39 x ASL) + (11.8 x ASW) – 15.59
Where GL is Grade Level, ASL is the average sentence length, and ASW is the average number of syllables per word.
The Gunning Fog Index is a readability metric that accounts for sentence length and the number of complex words, which are defined as words with three or more syllables. A higher score indicates a more difficult text.
GFI = 0.4 x (ASL + PHW)
Where GFI is Gunning Fog Index, ASL is the average sentence length, and PHW is the percentage of hard words (words with three or more syllables).
The Simplified Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) Index estimates the years of education needed to comprehend a text by analyzing the number of polysyllabic words in a sample. It is often used for evaluating the readability of healthcare and legal documents.
SMOG = 1.043 x √(30 x PDW) + 3.1291
Where SMOG is the SMOG Index and PDW is the number of polysyllabic words per 30 sentences.
This formula assesses text readability by analyzing syllable patterns and word frequency data.
First get a sample of 100 words.
GL = 0.0778(ASL) + 0.0455(NS) – 2.2029
Where GL is grade level, ASL is average sentence length and NS is number of syllables
The FORCAST Grade level formula measures text readability based on the frequency of single syllable words.
First get a sample of 150 words.
FORCAST = 20 – (NOSW / NTW)
Where NOSW is the number of one-syllable words, and NTW is the total number of words in the sample.
This formula considered the number of characters per word and sentences per 100 words to estimate the U.S. grade level required to understand a text. It is unique in that it doesnt rely on syllable counts making it an efficient formula.
CLI = (0.0588 x L) – (0.296 x S) – 15.8
Where CLI is the Coleman-Liau Index, L is the average number of characters per 100 words, and S is the average number of sentences per 100 words.
This formula uses characters per word and words per sentence to determine the readability of a text. We convert the results to the U.S. Grade level.
ARI = (4.71 x CHW) + (0.5 x WPS) – 21.43
Where ARI is the Automated Readability Index, CHW is the average number of characters per word, and WPS is the average number of words per sentence.
This formula incorporates sentence length and percentage of difficult words, which are those not found in a pre defined list of 3,000 familiar words.
DC = (0.1579 x PDW) + (0.0496 x ASL)
Where DC is the Dale-Chall Readability Grade, PDW is the percentage of difficult words, and ASL is the average sentence length.
This formula is specifically designed to analyze texts aimed at young readers, typically grades 1 – 3. By looking at sentence length and unfamiliar words we can determine the rough age at which a reader would need to be for the text.
SRG = (ASL + PDW) / 2
Where SRG is the Spache Readability Grade, ASL is the average sentence length, and PDW is the percentage of difficult words.
The Linsear Write Grade formula evaluates text readability by focusing on the number of simple and complex words in a sample of 100 words.
First collect a sample passage of 100 words.
LWG = (SIMW + (COMW x 3))
Where LWG is the Linsear Write Grade, SIMW is the number of simple words, COMW is the number of complex words, and NTW is the total number of words in the sample.
Use shorter sentences and paragraphs
Breaking up content into shorter, more digestible sentences and paragraphs will make it easier to understand. Long sentences and paragraphs can be overwhelming for reading, increasing the likelihood they lose interest in the content.
Avoid technical jargon and complex vocabulary
Using technical jargon can push people away from your content, especially if they are new or unfamiliar with the topic. This kind of writing can be a real barrier to entry for new users. Try to use more simple and clear language to keep a reader engaged with the content and retain information.
Break up text with headings and subheadings
Break up the text with headings and sub-headings to make the content more readable. Many readers like to scan a document and our readability checker helps show where headings and sub-headings will improve your writing.
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Use active voice instead of passive voice
Sentences written in active voice are more direct and less confusing than that of passive voice; this will help readers to be more interested and engaged in the article.
Vary sentence structure
Using a mix of long and short sentences can add variety and interest to the writing. Varying the sentence structure can also help emphasize important points and create a more dynamic and engaging writing style.
Write for your intended audience
When writing, it’s essential to consider the audience and write in a way that is appropriate and accessible to them. Writing for an adult academic audience, for example, will require a different writing style than when writing for a younger audience.
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Founder, ClickingPublish.com
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You’ll hear them called by many different names including readability tests, readability scanner, readability index and similar terms. All of them refer to either the process itself or the resulting score that you get telling you how readable your content is.
The readability number you get will depend on your target audience. If you’re writing a presentation for a group of nuclear engineers, you’d obviously want a higher readability score than if you were presenting to a group of college-bound high school students. Plus, different readability checkers look at different parts of your writing or web page to determine readability – some look at sentence length, others look at the words used. This can help you understand the “big picture” of the readability of your content.
A readability index is the measurement of how understandable your text is to your target audience. Different experts have taken different approaches to measure this, ranging from the number of complex syllables in a word to the number of words in a sentence. No one way is better than the other, but all of them are unique and give you a 360-degree view of how your writing is evaluated according to similar pieces of content in terms of readability.
Getting the big picture of the readability of your content is vital not just to improve audience engagement, but also for your organic ranking in the search engines. When people can read, understand and act on your content, they’re more likely to recommend it, share it with others and consistently come back for more. Having a wide range of readability tests allow you to make sure that every piece you write is the best it can be.