Master Class grads boost readability by up to 300%
One of my favorite parts of my Catch Your Reader Master Class is our Cut Through the Clutter smackdown.… Read the full article
tools
Run 7 readability tests with STORYToolz
Get 34 facts & figures about your clarity
Plug in a chunk of copy, and STORYtoolz will run it through seven readability indexes. STORYtoolz also delivers a wealth of other readability information — 34 pieces of data in all, from your longest sentence length to the number of “to be” verbs.… Read the full article
10 free readability calculators
Test your clarity with these cool tools
WordsCount’s SMOG Calculator measures the readability of your copy based on sentence length and syllable length and delivers the grade level a reader would need to have achieved to easily read your copy.… Read the full article
Improve your readability score with these free tools
Measure, monitor & manage readability
The first step in managing readability is to measure it. Fortunately, digital tools make taking stock of your message’s readability easier than ever.… Read the full article
Cut long words
Make copy easier to read, understand
Words too long? Here are four ways to reduce your average syllable or character count:
1. Eyeball your copy.
Scan for long words.… Read the full article
No budget? No problem!
How to measure with little time and money
By Angela Sinickas, ABC, Diva of Diagnostics
Low on time? Low on money?
No worries. You can still develop meaningful measurements.… Read the full article
Measure on a shoestring
Six free or cheap tools for tracking communication success
Focus groups and surveys can be expensive. But these tools can help you measure audience perceptions and message spread on a shoestring:
- Create free online surveys with Zoomerang, SurveyGizmo, or SurveyMonkey.
Five ways to measure for free
Check out these no-budget tools, from Angela Sinickas
Now there’s no excuse for failing to measure the effectiveness of your communications.
Even if you don’t have a dime to spend, there are tools you can use to establish how successful your campaigns were at delivering bottom-line benefits to your organization.… Read the full article
Resources on metaphor
Websites, books & tools
Metaphors We Live By
“Human thought processes are largely metaphorical. The human conceptual system is metaphorically structured and defined. … Metaphor is as much a part of our functioning as our sense of touch, and as precious.” So say authors George Lakoff and Mark Johnson in this insightful book.… Read the full article
How has technology changed our writing skills?
Do the tools we use matter?
Tears welled and teeth gnashed after the world’s last office typewriter factory — Godrej & Boyce in Mumbai, India — announced that it would close.… Read the full article