Readability Checker & Flesch Kincaid Calculator

Analyze your text's readability with professional metrics including Flesch Reading Ease, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, and Gunning Fog Index.

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Analysis runs automatically as you type (with debounce) or click the analyze button.

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Enter your text in the left panel to see detailed readability analysis including Flesch Reading Ease, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, and Gunning Fog Index.

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Readability Checker FAQ

What is a good Flesch Reading Ease score?

Flesch Reading Ease scores range from 0-100. Higher scores indicate easier readability:

  • 90-100: Very Easy (5th grade)
  • 70-89: Easy (6th-8th grade)
  • 50-69: Fairly Easy (9th-10th grade)
  • 30-49: Difficult (College level)
  • 0-29: Very Difficult (Graduate level)
For most general audiences, aim for a score of 60-70.

What do Flesch-Kincaid Grade Levels mean?

The Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level translates readability to U.S. school grade levels. For example, a score of 8.0 means an 8th grader can understand the text. Most popular novels are written at a 7th-8th grade level, while academic papers often score at 12th grade or higher. For general web content, aim for 8th-10th grade level for optimal comprehension.

What is the Gunning Fog Index and how is it calculated?

The Gunning Fog Index estimates the years of formal education needed to understand a text on first reading. It's calculated as: 0.4 × [(words/sentences) + 100 × (complex words/words)]. Complex words are those with three or more syllables (excluding proper nouns, familiar jargon, or compound words). A fog index of 12 requires a 12th grade reading level. For most business communications, aim for a fog index below 12.

How can I improve my text's readability score?

To improve readability: 1) Use shorter sentences, 2) Replace complex words with simpler alternatives, 3) Break long paragraphs into shorter ones, 4) Use active voice instead of passive, 5) Limit jargon and technical terms, and 6) Use bullet points for lists. Our tool helps identify specific areas for improvement by showing sentence length and syllable count metrics.