Clean Analysis
pt
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
36
48
72
DraftWrite.app logo

Understanding Your Readability Scores

Our free readability analyzer uses industry-standard algorithms to help you write content that is clear, engaging, and accessible. Whether you are an author, SEO specialist, teacher, student, or technical writer, understanding these metrics is key to reaching your audience.

What is the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level?

The Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level translates a score into a U.S. school grade level. For example, a score of 8.0 means the text is understandable for an 8th-grade student. For general web content, aiming for a Grade 7 to 9 is often ideal for maximum reach. Your text scored -.

Flesch Reading Ease

The Flesch Reading Ease score rates text on a 100-point scale. The higher the score, the easier it is to understand. A score of 60-70 is considered standard for plain English. Your text scored -.

How the Gunning Fog Index Works

The Gunning Fog Index estimates the years of formal education a person needs to understand the text on the first reading. It places a heavy emphasis on "complex words"—words with three or more syllables. Use our live highlighter to identify and simplify these words in real-time. Ideally, a score of 6 to 11 is best for a wide audience. Your text scored -.

SMOG Index

The SMOG Index (Simple Measure of Gobbledygook) is widely used in healthcare to ensure patient materials are readable. It estimates the years of education needed to understand a piece of writing. For consumer healthcare content, a score of 6 to 8 is recommended. Your text scored -.

Coleman-Liau Index

The Coleman-Liau Index relies on characters per word rather than syllables. It is often used for automated assessment of text where syllable counting might be inaccurate. Like other grade-level metrics, a score of 7 to 9 is ideal for general audiences. Your text scored -.

Automated Readability Index (ARI)

The ARI produces an approximate representation of the U.S. grade level needed to comprehend the text. It is similar to Flesch-Kincaid but uses character count instead of syllables. Aim for a score of 7 to 9 for broad readability. Your text scored -.

Why Use the Dale-Chall Score?

Unlike other formulas that use math-based syllable counts, the Dale-Chall Readability Formula uses a lookup list of 3,000 familiar words. This makes it one of the most accurate tools for assessing text meant for children or non-native English speakers. A score below 7.0 is generally suitable for a broad audience. Your text scored -.

Tips for Improving Readability

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is my data stored?

Nowhere but your own computer. We use localStorage to keep your drafts safe between sessions, but we never upload your text to a server.

How accurate are the readability scores?

Our engine uses the industry-standard mathematical formulas for all 11 indices. However, language is nuanced, so these should be used as professional guides rather than absolute rules.

Can I use this for academic research?

Absolutely. We provide APA and MLA citations in the footer to help you credit the tool in your research papers or case studies.

The Professional Writer’s Glossary

Automated Readability Index (ARI)
A readability test for English texts, designed to gauge the understandability of a text. It produces an approximate representation of the US grade level needed to comprehend the text.
Clutter Words
Words or phrases that add volume but not value. Examples include "in order to" (use "to") or "at this point in time" (use "now"). Removing them makes writing punchier.
Coleman-Liau Index
A readability test designed to gauge the understandability of a text. Unlike the syllable-based Flesch-Kincaid, it relies on characters per word.
Complex Words
In readability formulas like Gunning Fog, these are typically defined as words with three or more syllables. Reducing these can improve readability scores.
Dale-Chall Readability Formula
A readability test that provides a numeric gauge of the comprehension difficulty that readers come upon when reading a text. It uses a list of 3000 words that fourth-graders can understand.
Flesch Reading Ease
A score between 0 and 100. Higher scores indicate material that is easier to read; lower numbers mark passages that are more difficult to read.
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level
A readability test designed to indicate how difficult a passage in English is to understand. It translates the score to a U.S. grade level.
Gunning Fog Index
Estimates the years of formal education a person needs to understand the text on the first reading. Ideally, a score of 7-8 is best for a wide audience.
Passive Voice
A grammatical construction where the subject is acted upon by the verb (e.g., "The ball was thrown by the boy"). Active voice ("The boy threw the ball") is generally preferred for clarity.
SMOG Index
"Simple Measure of Gobbledygook". A readability formula that estimates the years of education needed to understand a piece of writing, known for its accuracy in healthcare materials.