Readability Analyzer

Readability Analyzer

Analyzes text using multiple readability formulas to estimate the education level required to understand it easily. Useful for content targeting specific audiences.

Readability formulas

• Flesch Reading Ease: score 0-100; higher = easier. 60-70 is standard/plain English. Below 30 is very difficult (academic).
• Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: maps to US school grades. Grade 8 = 13-14 year olds. Target grade 6-8 for most web content.
• Gunning Fog Index: estimates years of formal education needed. Below 12 is accessible to most adults.
• SMOG Grade: Simple Measure of Gobbledegook; estimates years of education needed to understand the text.

Readability targets by content type

How to improve readability

• Use shorter sentences (aim for 15-20 words average)
• Replace long/complex words with shorter synonyms
• Break up long paragraphs
• Use active voice instead of passive
• Avoid jargon when writing for a general audience

UK plain language standards

The Flesch formulas were developed and calibrated for English, so scores are directly usable for UK content. Key benchmarks:

• gov.uk content design standard: the Government Digital Service targets a reading age of 9 (Grade 4 US equivalent, Flesch ~65-70). Their style guide bans passive voice, nominalisations ("implementation of" → "implement"), and sentences over 25 words.
• Plain English Campaign: their Crystal Mark accreditation requires a Flesch Reading Ease above 60 and an average sentence length under 20 words. Around 16 million UK adults have literacy difficulties (equivalent to reading age 11 or below).
• Legal documents: UK courts have pushed for "plain English" in consumer contracts since the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999. A Flesch score below 30 in a consumer-facing contract is a potential red flag.