Readability Score
Analyze text readability with Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, Flesch Reading Ease, Gunning Fog Index, SMOG, and Automated Readability Index scores.
Enter at least 5 words
How to Use Readability Score
- 1Paste or type your text into the input field.
- 2View readability scores across 5 standard formulas instantly.
- 3Check the grade level and audience suitability summary.
- 4Adjust your writing to hit the target readability level.
Zenovay
Privacy-first analytics for your website
Understand your visitors without invasive tracking. GDPR compliant, lightweight, and powerful.
Related Tools
Word CounterCount words, characters, sentences, and paragraphs. Estimate reading and speaking time.
Character CounterCount characters with and without spaces. Track limits for Twitter, meta descriptions, and more.
Case ConverterConvert text between UPPERCASE, lowercase, Title Case, camelCase, snake_case, and kebab-case.
Lorem Ipsum GeneratorGenerate placeholder text in paragraphs, sentences, or words. Copy with one click.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Flesch Reading Ease score?▾
Developed by Rudolf Flesch in 1948, the Flesch Reading Ease score rates text from 0 to 100. Higher scores = easier to read. 90–100: very easy (5th grade), 60–70: standard (8th–9th grade), 30–50: difficult (college), 0–30: very confusing (professional). Formula: 206.835 − 1.015 × (words/sentences) − 84.6 × (syllables/words). Most consumer content targets 60–70.
What is Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level?▾
The Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level converts the readability formula to a US school grade level. Grade 8 means an average 8th grader can understand the text. Formula: 0.39 × (words/sentences) + 11.8 × (syllables/words) − 15.59. The US Department of Defense requires documents at grade 8 or below. Plain language guidelines typically target grade 6–8 for general audiences.
What is the Gunning Fog Index?▾
The Gunning Fog Index (1952) estimates years of formal education needed to understand text on first reading. It focuses on "complex words" — words with 3+ syllables. Formula: 0.4 × ((words/sentences) + 100 × (complex_words/words)). A score of 12 = high school senior; 17+ = college graduate. Time magazine targets ~11; Harvard Law Review is typically 18+.
What is SMOG?▾
SMOG (Simple Measure of Gobbledygook) was developed in 1969 by G. Harry McLaughlin. It measures the years of education needed to understand text, focusing on polysyllabic words (3+ syllables). It requires at least 30 sentences for accuracy. Formula: 3 + √(polysyllabic_word_count × 30/sentence_count). It is particularly popular for assessing health literacy.
What is ARI (Automated Readability Index)?▾
The Automated Readability Index (ARI) was created in 1967, designed for real-time monitoring as text was typed on typewriters. It uses characters instead of syllables, making it easier to compute: 4.71 × (characters/words) + 0.5 × (words/sentences) − 21.43. Output corresponds to US grade level. It correlates well with Flesch-Kincaid and is used in readability studies requiring fast computation.