How to Measure and Improve Text Readability

Readability measures how easy it is to read and understand a piece of text. Whether you are writing web content, academic papers, or marketing copy, readability directly impacts how well your audience engages with your writing.

Common Readability Scores

Flesch Reading Ease

Scores range from 0-100, with higher scores indicating easier reading. Most web content should aim for 60-70 (easily understood by 13-15 year olds).

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level

Indicates the US school grade level needed to understand the text. Most popular content targets grade 7-8.

Gunning Fog Index

Estimates years of formal education needed to understand the text. For general audiences, aim for 12 or lower.

How to Improve Readability

Use Short Sentences

Aim for an average sentence length of 15-20 words. Mix short and long sentences for rhythm, but break up any sentence over 30 words.

Choose Simple Words

Use “use” instead of “utilize”, “help” instead of “facilitate”, “start” instead of “commence”. Simpler words are not less intelligent — they are more effective.

Write Short Paragraphs

Online readers prefer paragraphs of 2-4 sentences. Long blocks of text are intimidating and often skipped.

Use Headers and Subheaders

Break your content into scannable sections with descriptive headers. Most readers scan before deciding whether to read in detail.

Avoid Jargon

Unless writing for a specialist audience, avoid technical terms or define them when first used.

Word Count and Readability

Use our word counter tool to check your text statistics. Monitoring sentence length, paragraph count, and word count helps you maintain consistent readability across your content.