Readability
Checker.
Paste your text to get the Flesch Reading Ease score and grade level from 6 formulas — then see every hard sentence, adverb, passive verb and complex word highlighted, with simpler words to use instead.
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Scores of 60 or more are easy for most readers.
Highlights
Grade level by formula
Text stats
What is a readability score?
A readability score estimates how easy your text is to read. The Flesch Reading Ease score runs from 0 to 100: the higher the number, the easier the text. It is based on two things only, how long your sentences are and how many syllables your words have.
| Score | Level | Easy for |
|---|---|---|
| 90–100 | Very easy | An 11-year-old |
| 70–89 | Easy to fairly easy | Ages 12–14 |
| 60–69 | Plain English | Ages 13–15; most web readers |
| 50–59 | Fairly difficult | High school students |
| 30–49 | Difficult | College students |
| 0–29 | Very difficult | University graduates |
The Flesch-Kincaid grade level turns the same idea into a school grade. A grade of 8 means a typical 13–14-year-old can follow the text.
What the highlight colours mean
- Yellow — a hard sentence. Shorten it or split it in two.
- Red — a very hard sentence. Readers will lose the thread; rewrite it.
- Blue — an adverb. Use a stronger verb instead (“ran” rather than “ran quickly”).
- Green — passive voice. Say who did what (“we fixed it”, not “it was fixed”).
- Purple — a word or phrase with a simpler option. Hover it to see the suggestion.
How to make your writing easier to read
- Keep sentences short. Aim for 15–20 words on average, and split any sentence over 25 words.
- Use short, common words. “Use” instead of “utilise”, “help” instead of “facilitate”.
- One idea per paragraph. Short paragraphs are easier to scan, especially on phones.
- Write in the active voice. “We fixed the bug” is clearer than “The bug was fixed by us”.
- Add headings and lists so readers can find what they need.
Readability is not a direct Google ranking factor, but clear writing keeps readers on the page and helps them find the answer. Pair it with the word counter to check length, and the SEO audit to check the rest of the page.
Built by Mubashir Safeer — an SEO who edits guest posts and blog articles every week. More about me.
Readability checker FAQ.
What is a good Flesch Reading Ease score?
For most websites, aim for 60 or higher. That is plain English that most adults read easily. Technical or legal text often scores lower.
How is the Flesch Reading Ease score calculated?
The formula is 206.835 − 1.015 × (words ÷ sentences) − 84.6 × (syllables ÷ words). Long sentences and long words lower the score.
What grade level should web content be?
Grade 7–9 suits most audiences. Even experts read simple text faster, so lower is usually better.
Does readability affect SEO?
Not directly. Google does not use a readability score, but easy text helps people stay, understand and act, which supports your results.
Why is my score different in other tools?
Tools count syllables and sentences in slightly different ways, so scores can vary by a few points. Use one tool to compare drafts.
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