Clear communication helps your message reach more people. The average adult reads at an 8th-grade level. If your writing is too complex (Grade 12+), you risk losing up to 40% of your audience. Our tool helps you simplify your text without "dumbing it down."
Tool Features
5+ Algorithms
Don't rely on just one number. We calculate Flesch-Kincaid, Gunning Fog, SMOG, Coleman-Liau, and ARI simultaneously for a consensus view.
Visual Highlights
Identify problem areas instantly. We highlight long sentences in yellow and complex words in purple.
File Analysis
Analyze entire articles or documents by simply dragging and dropping a .txt file into the editor.
Detailed Stats
Dive deep with sentence counts, syllable counts, complex word density, and average sentence length metrics.
Supported Algorithms
Algorithm
Best Used For
Flesch-Kincaid
Standard US school grade level. The most common general-purpose metric.
Gunning Fog
Business writing and newspapers. Heavily penalizes "complex" words (3+ syllables).
SMOG Index
Healthcare and academic journals. Known for high accuracy in higher-level texts.
Coleman-Liau
Modern automated scoring. Relies on character count (like typing) rather than syllables.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good Readability Score?
For general web content, aim for a Flesch Reading Ease score of 60-70 (8th-grade level). This ensures your writing is accessible to the average adult reader.
What is the difference between Flesch-Kincaid and Gunning Fog?
Flesch-Kincaid focuses on sentence length and syllables per word. Gunning Fog specifically weighs "complex words" (3+ syllables) more heavily, often resulting in a slightly higher grade level estimate for technical texts.
How does the highlighting feature work?
Switch to "Analyze" mode to see visual highlights. Yellow indicates sentences that are long (20+ words), Red indicates very long sentences (30+ words), and Purple text indicates complex words (3+ syllables).
What is the SMOG Index?
SMOG (Simple Measure of Gobbledygook) is widely considered the most accurate formula for healthcare and academic materials. It strictly counts polysyllabic words to estimate the years of education needed to understand a text.
Does this tool work for languages other than English?
These specific formulas (Flesch, Fog, SMOG) are calibrated for English sentence structures and syllable counts. Using them for other languages may yield inaccurate results.
Can I check the readability of a file?
Yes! You can drag and drop a .txt file directly into the editor to load the content and analyze it instantly.
Why is my grade level so high?
High grade levels usually come from using long sentences and many multi-syllable words. To lower it, try breaking long sentences into two and replacing complex words with simpler synonyms.
What is the "Automated Readability Index" (ARI)?
ARI relies on character count rather than syllable count. It is often faster to calculate but can be less accurate than Flesch-Kincaid for complex vocabulary analysis.
Is 100% Reading Ease possible?
Yes, but mostly for children's books (Grade 4-5). Professional writing typically falls in the 50-70 range. Don't sacrifice necessary nuance just to chase a 100 score.
Is my text sent to a server?
No. All analysis happens locally in your browser using JavaScript. Your text remains private and is never stored or transmitted.