Readability Checker

Practical guide: scores that support clarity, not dumbing down

What this is

Readability formulas estimate difficulty from sentence length, word length, and syllable patterns. They are useful quality checks for broad audiences, support, and top-of-funnel content. They do not measure accuracy, expertise, or usefulness—an easy-to-read paragraph can still be wrong.

How to use it

Paste representative text: full section rather than a cherry-picked paragraph if you want a fair score. For mixed pages, scan intro, body, and disclosure sections separately—legal or medical passages legitimately score “harder.” After edits, re-run to confirm you shortened sentences and split dense clauses without losing necessary precision.

How to read the results

Flesch Reading Ease around roughly 60–70 is a common web target, but YMYL topics may need higher grade levels to stay responsible. Grade-level metrics describe schooling equivalents, not audience IQ. Sudden score jumps after edits usually mean shorter sentences or fewer polysyllabic words—skim for lost nuance or keyword context if the copy feels thinner.

Common mistakes

Chasing a “perfect” score with choppy micro-sentences harms flow. Replacing precise terms with vague synonyms can hurt E-E-A-T. Ignoring headings, lists, and whitespace while only tuning words leaves walls of text. Applying one global target to legal, engineering, and lifestyle content ignores intent. Use readability to expose friction, not to automate voice and tone.