Readability Checker
Free online readability checker. Analyze text with Flesch Reading Ease, Gunning Fog, SMOG and more. Find out what reading level your content requires.
Basic Statistics
Word & Sentence Stats
Readability Scores
Flesch Reading Ease
Scale: 0-100 (higher = easier to read)
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Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level
US school grade level (0-18)
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SMOG Index
Simple Measure of Gobbledygook
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Gunning Fog Index
Grade level required to understand text
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Recommended Target Audience
Complex Words (3+ syllables) Found:
Understanding Readability Scores
Readability scores estimate how easy or difficult a text may feel to readers. These formulas mainly work as directional guidance for English text, using factors such as sentence length, word length, and syllable count.
The Flesch Reading Ease Scale
- 90-100: Very Easy (5th grade level)
- 80-89: Easy (6th grade level)
- 70-79: Fairly Easy (7th grade level)
- 60-69: Standard (8th-9th grade level)
- 50-59: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th grade level)
- 30-49: Difficult (College level)
- 0-29: Very Difficult (College graduate level)
Who Uses Readability Checkers?
- Content Writers & Bloggers: Create content that matches their target audience's reading level
- SEO Professionals: Optimize blog posts for both readability and search engine visibility
- Educators: Ensure learning materials match student grade levels
- Legal & Technical Writers: Simplify complex documents for clarity
- Publishers & Editors: Maintain consistency in readability across publications
How to Improve Readability
- Shorter sentences: Aim for 15-20 words per sentence on average
- Simpler words: Replace complex terms with common alternatives (use instead of utilize)
- Break up text: Use headers, bullet points, and short paragraphs
- Active voice: Write in active voice rather than passive voice
- One idea per sentence: Avoid cramming multiple ideas into one sentence
FAQ
What's the difference between Flesch and Flesch-Kincaid? Flesch Reading Ease gives a 0-100 score (higher = easier), while Flesch-Kincaid shows a grade level. Both measure similar factors.
Should I aim for a specific score? It depends on your audience. Blog posts typically target 60-70 (8th-9th grade), while technical docs may be 40-50 (college level).
How are syllables counted? The tool uses a simple vowel-group estimate for English words. It is useful for quick guidance, but it will not be perfect for every word, name, or technical term.