Everyday Utilities

Readability
Checker

Paste any text to get an instant readability report: Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease score, grade level, reading time, average sentence and word length, syllable count, and actionable suggestions to improve clarity.

Your Text

Type or paste text above to generate a readability report

✏️ Paste text above to see your readability score

—

Grade Level

—

Reading Time

—

Words

—

Sentences

—

Avg Sent Length

—

Avg Syllables/Word

—

Complex Words

—

Gunning Fog

Sentence Length Distribution

Awaiting text…

Writing Suggestions

✏️Paste your text to get personalized suggestions

Flesch Reading Ease — Score Reference

Very Easy

90–100

Grade 5

Children's books, basic instructions

Easy

80–90

Grade 6

Conversational English, simple emails

Fairly Easy

70–80

Grade 7

Consumer emails, most web content

Standard

60–70

Grade 8–9

Newspapers, general interest magazines

Fairly Difficult

50–60

Grade 10–12

High school textbooks, trade publications

Difficult

30–50

College

Academic articles, technical reports

Very Difficult

0–30

Professional

Legal documents, scientific papers

📖 How to Use the Readability Checker

Paste your text

Click the text box and paste your content with Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on Mac), or type directly. All scores update as you type — no button to press. Works with blog posts, emails, cover letters, articles, landing page copy, social posts, academic essays, or any written text. Try the Sample buttons to see how different writing styles score differently.

Read your Flesch score

The large circular gauge shows your Flesch Reading Ease score (0–100). Higher is easier — 90+ is children's level, 60–70 is standard newspaper, below 30 is academic/legal. The badge below the score names the band (Very Easy through Very Difficult) and the description explains what it means for your audience. Your current band is highlighted in the reference table below.

Check grade level and metrics

The Grade Level card shows the US school grade needed to understand your text (Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level). Average Sentence Length and Average Syllables/Word are the two inputs that most influence readability — shorter sentences and simpler words always improve scores. Complex Words shows the percentage of words with 3+ syllables. Gunning Fog is a second readability index for cross-checking.

Act on the suggestions

The Writing Suggestions panel gives personalized, specific advice based on your text's scores — for example, "Your average sentence length is 28 words — aim for under 20" or "17% of your words have 3+ syllables — try replacing some with simpler alternatives." Edit your text directly in the box and watch the scores update in real time to see how your changes affect readability.

Target score by content type: Marketing copy and landing pages → aim for 60–70 (Standard). Blog posts and newsletters → 60–75. Product descriptions → 70–80 (Easy). Technical documentation → 50–60 is acceptable. Academic papers → 30–50 is normal. Legal documents → 20–40. For the widest audience possible, target 60–70. The US average adult reads at a 7th–8th grade level — a score of 60–70 reaches the broadest demographic.

What is the Flesch-Kincaid score?

The Flesch Reading Ease formula was developed by Rudolf Flesch in 1948 and is the most widely used readability test in the English-speaking world. It calculates a score from 0 to 100 based on average sentence length and average number of syllables per word. The formula: 206.835 − (1.015 × avg sentence length) − (84.6 × avg syllables per word). Higher scores = easier reading. The US Navy uses it to assess training manuals. Microsoft Word's readability stats use this formula.

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level vs Reading Ease

They use the same two inputs (sentence length and syllables per word) but produce different outputs. Reading Ease gives a 0–100 score — higher is easier. Grade Level gives a US school grade number — higher means harder. Grade Level formula: 0.39 × avg sentence length + 11.8 × avg syllables per word − 15.59. A score of 8.0 means the text is readable by an 8th grader. Most web content should target Grade 6–8. Technical or academic content at Grade 12–16 is normal.

What is the Gunning Fog Index?

The Gunning Fog Index, developed by Robert Gunning in 1952, estimates years of formal education needed to understand a text on first reading. Formula: 0.4 × (words/sentences + 100 × complex words/words), where complex words have 3+ syllables. A Fog score of 12 corresponds to a high school senior. Newspapers target 10–12. Academic papers average 15–20. The Wall Street Journal targets around 11. Below 8 is easy; above 17 is extremely difficult. It's used alongside Flesch for a more complete readability picture.

How to improve your readability score

The two most effective changes: (1) Shorten your sentences. Aim for an average of 15–20 words. Long sentences of 30+ words are the fastest way to tank a readability score. Break them up with periods, not commas. (2) Use simpler words. Replace 3-syllable words with shorter alternatives where possible: "utilize" → "use", "demonstrate" → "show", "facilitate" → "help". You don't need to write like a children's book — just be direct. Active voice, shorter paragraphs, and clear topic sentences also help significantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Flesch-Kincaid score should I aim for? ▾

It depends on your audience and content type. For general web content and blogs targeting a broad audience: aim for 60–70 (Standard). For marketing copy, product pages, and emails: 65–80 (Standard to Fairly Easy). For children's content or simple instructions: 80+ (Easy to Very Easy). For technical documentation where accuracy requires complex terms: 50–60 is acceptable. For academic or scientific papers: 30–50 is normal. Legal documents often score 10–30. The goal isn't always the highest score — it's the right score for your audience.

Does a low readability score mean my writing is bad? ▾

Not necessarily. Readability scores measure sentence complexity and word length — not quality, accuracy, or value. A legal contract, a scientific paper, or a technical specification will always score low because the content genuinely requires precise terminology and qualified statements. A low score is a problem when your audience is general — if you're writing a blog post that scores at college level, many readers will drop off. But if you're writing for specialists who expect dense technical language, a low score is appropriate. Context matters more than the absolute number.

How is syllable count calculated? ▾

This tool uses an algorithmic syllable estimator based on vowel group patterns in English — counting vowel clusters (a, e, i, o, u, y) while accounting for silent e's and common patterns like -ed endings. It's accurate to within 1 syllable for the vast majority of English words. The algorithm isn't perfect for rare words, proper nouns, or highly irregular pronunciations — but since readability scores are statistical measures based on averages across hundreds of words, small per-word errors average out and don't meaningfully affect the overall score.

What is "complex words" percentage? ▾

Complex words are words with 3 or more syllables. This metric is used in the Gunning Fog Index. A high percentage of complex words makes text harder to skim and process, even if sentences are short. Common complex words include "understand" (3), "information" (4), "immediately" (5), "communication" (5). Below 10% complex words is ideal for general audiences. 10–20% is normal for professional content. Above 20% signals that you may be over-relying on jargon or formal vocabulary where simpler alternatives exist.

How to Check Text Readability

Analyse the reading level and complexity of any text with Flesch-Kincaid and other scores.

Paste your text

Copy and paste the content you want to analyse — an article, email, product description, or any piece of writing. Paste at least 100 words for reliable scores.

Review the Flesch Reading Ease score

0–30 is very difficult (academic). 30–50 is difficult. 50–60 is fairly difficult. 60–70 is standard (target for most web content). 70–80 is fairly easy. 80+ is easy or conversational.

Check the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level

This translates reading ease into a US school grade level. Grade 8–9 is ideal for most public-facing web content. Marketing copy often targets grade 6–7.

Identify problem areas

The tool highlights the longest sentences and most complex words. Splitting long sentences is the single highest-impact way to improve readability.

Iterate and recheck

Edit your text, paste it again, and see how the scores change. Aim for concrete improvements rather than perfect scores.

💡

💡 Most people read web content at a grade 7–8 level regardless of their actual education. Even academic audiences appreciate clear, direct writing. Plain language is professional, not dumbed-down.

ReadabilityChecker

What is the Flesch-Kincaid score?

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level vs Reading Ease

What is the Gunning Fog Index?

How to improve your readability score

Readability
Checker