Readability Checker

What is readability checker?

Readability formulas estimate how hard a text is to read from sentence length and word length. They do not measure quality, but they are a fast way to spot dense writing.

Most web content works best at a plain English level, around grades 7 to 9. Shorter sentences and simpler words help every reader, including experts in a hurry.

How to use the readability checker

1. Paste at least a paragraph of text.
2. Read the score, level and number of long sentences.
3. Shorten long sentences and replace complex words, then check again.

How the readability checker works

The Flesch reading ease score is 206.835 minus 1.015 times the average words per sentence, minus 84.6 times the average syllables per word. The grade level uses the Flesch Kincaid formula. Syllables are estimated with a simple rule, so results are approximate.

Worked example

Common uses of the readability checker

• Editing blog posts and web pages for clarity.
• Checking student essays and reports.
• Reviewing instructions, policies and help pages.
• Matching text to an audience reading level.
• Comparing drafts before and after edits.

Tips and common mistakes

Break sentences of more than 25 words into two.

Use everyday words. Write use instead of utilize and help instead of facilitate.

Background: what to know before you rely on it

The Flesch Reading Ease formula was created by Rudolf Flesch in 1948, and J. Peter Kincaid adapted it into a grade level score for the US Navy in the 1970s. Both are still widely used in education, government and health writing. Plain language laws in several countries ask public bodies to write at an accessible level. Readability is only one part of good writing. A short sentence can still be unclear, and a long one can be elegant. Use the score as a prompt to review the text, and always read the result aloud to check that it flows.

Private, free and fast

This tool runs entirely in your browser. What you type or choose is not uploaded to a server and is not saved after you close the page, which keeps it fast and private. It is free to use as often as you like. See more in all text tools, or browse the full list of tools.

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Results are for information and education. For legal, financial, medical or security decisions, check with a qualified professional. Always proofread output before you publish.