Free Readability Checker
Readability Checker 📚
This readability checker will help you check the readability score of your text according to six different testing methods. These are:
- Flesch Reading Ease
- Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level
- Gunning Fog Index
- SMOG Index
- Coleman–Liau Index
- Automated Readability Index (ARI)
Flesch Reading Test
The Flesch Reading Ease formula is one of the most commonly used readability tests. It calculates how easy or difficult a text is to read based on the average number of syllables per word and the average number of words per sentence. The resulting score indicates how readable the text is on a scale from 0 to 100.
Formula:
Interpretation
- Score 90–100: Very easy to read (e.g., children’s books).
- Score 60–70: Easily understood by 13- to 15-year-old students.
- Score 0–30: Very difficult to read (e.g., academic texts).
Use: It’s primarily used to assess general text readability and is commonly seen in materials aimed at the general public.
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level
The Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level formula is a readability test that translates the Flesch Reading Ease score into a U.S. school grade level, meaning it indicates what grade level a reader would need to be in to understand the text.
Formula:
Interpretation:
- Grade 5-6: Easily understood by most people.
- Grade 7-9: Suitable for average readers with a basic knowledge of English.
- Grade 10+: Suitable for more advanced or academic readers.
Gunning Fog Index
The Gunning Fog Index measures the complexity of a text based on the average sentence length and the percentage of words with three or more syllables. It estimates the years of formal education required to understand the text on first reading.
Formula
Interpretations
- Fog index 6-8: Easy to read (understood by 6th-8th grade students).
- Fog index 12: College-level reading.
- Fog index 18+: Difficult, possibly professional-level content.
Use: This is particularly useful for assessing business, technical, or academic content and ensuring that it’s appropriate for a specific audience.
SMOG Index
The SMOG (Simple Measure of Gobbledygook) Index measures the readability of text by calculating the number of polysyllabic words (words with three or more syllables) in a passage. It’s often used for assessing texts that require a minimum reading level for comprehension.
Formula
Interpretation
- SMOG Index 6–9: Understandable by the average person.
- SMOG Index 10–12: High school level text.
- SMOG Index 13+: College-level text.
Use: This is most often used for assessing health-related materials and ensuring they’re accessible to the general public, especially in health communication.
Coleman–Liau Index
The Coleman–Liau Index uses the number of letters per word and the number of sentences per text to estimate the U.S. school grade level. This formula does not require syllable counting, making it computationally easier to implement compared to others.
Formula
Interpretation
- Grade 6–10: Suitable for general audiences.
- Grade 11–12: Appropriate for higher-grade readers.
- Grade 13+: Suitable for university-level readers.
Use: This index is often used in educational settings to determine the readability of texts, especially when syllable counting is difficult.
Automated Readability Index (ARI)
The Automated Readability Index (ARI) calculates readability based on the average number of characters per word and the average number of words per sentence. It estimates the U.S. school grade level needed to understand the text.
Formula
Interpretation
- ARI 1–5: Easily readable by young students.
- ARI 6–10: Suitable for elementary school readers.
- ARI 11–15: Suitable for high school or higher education readers.
Use: The ARI is used in a variety of contexts to estimate the complexity of text, particularly in educational and public service content.
Why is a Readability Test Important?
A readability test is important because it helps ensure that your content is clear, easy to understand, and accessible to your target audience. Whether you’re writing a blog post, product description, academic paper, or marketing copy, your message is only effective if your readers can easily grasp it.
Readability tests analyze sentence length, word complexity, and overall structure to assign a score or grade level. This score helps you adjust your writing to match your audience’s reading ability. For example, content for the general public should ideally be written at a 6th to 8th-grade reading level.
Improving readability enhances user experience, reduces bounce rates, and increases engagement, plus, it is a factor that also support better SEO performance. Search engines like Google prioritize content that keeps users on the page and answers their queries effectively.
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