Paste an essay, article or email to see how easy it is to read. You get the Flesch reading ease, the grade level from five standard formulas, reading and speaking time, and the sentences worth shortening. It is free, and your text stays on this device.
How to check your writing, step by step
- Paste your text into the Your text box, or press Try the example.
- Read the Reading ease gauge, the Grade level and the Reading time.
- Open All scores to see each formula and what its score means.
- Look at Long sentences, which lists every sentence over 25 words.
- Edit your text, watch the scores change, and press Copy scores when you are happy.
Flesch reading ease
Scores run from 0 to about 100, and higher is easier. 60 to 70 is plain English that most adults read comfortably. Most popular newspapers aim for 60 to 70; academic papers often score below 30.
Grade level
Flesch-Kincaid, Gunning fog, SMOG, Coleman-Liau and the Automated Readability Index each estimate the US school grade needed to understand the text. They use slightly different signals (syllables, long words, letters per word), so the average is usually the fairest single number.
How to make text easier
Shorten long sentences, swap long words for short ones where the meaning holds, and break up big paragraphs. Readability formulas measure length, not meaning, so read your text aloud as a final check.
Who uses it
- Students checking an essay before they hand it in.
- Bloggers and writers aiming for a clear, friendly style.
- Small businesses writing web pages, emails and instructions customers will actually read.
- Teachers choosing reading material at the right level.
- Anyone writing for a wide audience, such as a notice, a policy or a form.
Tips for plain writing
- Aim for sentences under 20 words on average.
- Prefer everyday words: use rather than utilise, help rather than facilitate.
- Write in the active voice: say who does what.
- Put the main point first.
- Use short paragraphs and clear headings.
For spelling and grammar, try the grammar checker.
Private by design
The scores are worked out in your browser. Your text is saved on this device as you type, so you can come back to it, and it is not sent anywhere.
Questions
What is a good Flesch score?
For general readers, 60 to 70 is a good target. A higher number means easier reading.
What grade level should I aim for?
For public information, a grade between 6 and 9 is a common aim. Technical writing may be higher.
Why do the formulas give different grades?
Each measures slightly different things, such as syllables, long words or letters per word. The average is the fairest single number.
Does a good score mean good writing?
No. The formulas measure length, not meaning or tone, so use them as a guide.