Readability Checker
Analyze your text readability with Flesch-Kincaid, Gunning Fog, and Reading Ease scores. Get grade level estimates, detailed text statistics, and actionable improvement tips.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level?
The Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level translates your text into a US school grade level. For example, a score of 8.0 means an eighth grader can understand your text. It is calculated using average sentence length and average syllables per word. Most general-audience writing should aim for a grade level between 7 and 9.
What is a good Flesch Reading Ease score?
The Flesch Reading Ease score ranges from 0 to 100, where higher scores mean easier reading. A score of 60-70 is considered ideal for general audiences. Scores above 70 are easy to read (plain English), scores between 30-50 are difficult (college level), and scores below 30 are very difficult (graduate level or professional). Most popular publications aim for 60-70.
What is the Gunning Fog Index?
The Gunning Fog Index estimates the years of formal education needed to understand a text on first reading. It considers sentence length and the percentage of complex words (words with three or more syllables). A Fog Index of 12 means roughly a high school senior reading level. For broad public audiences, aim for a Fog Index of 8-10.
How are syllables counted in this tool?
This tool uses a heuristic algorithm optimized for English. It counts groups of consecutive vowels as one syllable, adjusts for silent 'e' at the end of words, and accounts for consonant-le endings. While not 100% accurate for every word, this method provides reliable results for readability scoring across typical English text.
What grade level should I target for my writing?
It depends on your audience. For general web content, aim for grades 7-9 (middle school to early high school). Marketing copy and journalism typically target grade 6-8. Technical documentation may be grade 10-12. Academic papers can be college level or above. The key is matching your writing complexity to your readers' expected reading ability.