What is Readability?
Readability measures how easy your text is to read and understand. It's not about dumbing down content—it's about communicating ideas clearly and efficiently. Our Readability Checker uses proven formulas to analyze your writing and suggest improvements.
High readability means more people will read, understand, and engage with your content. Whether you're writing for 8th graders or experts, matching your text to your audience is crucial for success.
Understanding Readability Scores
| Flesch Score | Grade Level | Audience |
|---|---|---|
| 90-100 | 5th grade | Very easy to read |
| 80-89 | 6th grade | Easy to read (conversational) |
| 70-79 | 7th grade | Fairly easy |
| 60-69 | 8th-9th grade | Plain English (ideal for web) |
| 50-59 | 10th-12th grade | Fairly difficult |
| 0-49 | College+ | Difficult (academic/technical) |
📰 Industry Standard
Major publications target a 60-70 Flesch score (8th-9th grade). The New York Times averages around 60. Web content should aim for 7th-8th grade level to reach the widest audience.
Readability Formulas Explained
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level
Developed by the U.S. Navy, this formula estimates the years of education needed to understand your text. A score of 8.0 means an 8th grader can comprehend it. The formula considers sentence length and syllables per word.
Flesch Reading Ease
Scores from 0-100, where higher is easier. This is the inverse of grade level—a 70 Reading Ease score roughly corresponds to a 7th-grade level.
Gunning Fog Index
Focuses on complex words (3+ syllables) and sentence length. The result maps to years of formal education. A Fog Index of 12 requires a high school senior's reading ability.
How to Improve Readability
- Shorten sentences: Aim for 15-20 words average
- Use simple words: "use" instead of "utilize"
- Break up paragraphs: 2-4 sentences for web content
- Add subheadings: Help readers scan and navigate
- Use active voice: "We shipped your order" not "Your order was shipped"
- Avoid jargon: Unless your audience expects technical language
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lower readability always bad?
No! Academic papers, legal documents, and technical manuals require complex language. The key is matching readability to your target audience. A physics journal should be harder than a recipe blog.
How accurate are these formulas?
Readability formulas are guidelines, not absolute measures. They focus on sentence/word length but can't evaluate content organization, topic familiarity, or visual formatting. Use them as one input among many.
What about languages other than English?
Flesch-Kincaid was designed for English. Other languages have their own formulas (e.g., LIX for Scandinavian languages). Our tool works best with English text.