How to make messages more readable

Measure, monitor and manage readability

Readable — Can you read me now? Measurably increase readability scores. Image from iStock


	Benchmark your message against New York Times’ readability How does your readability measure up against The Wall Street Journal, the BBC & more? How does your readability measure up? Benchmark readability against The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the BBC & more.

	Readability indexes What do the numbers mean? From Flesch to Gunning, use indexes to quantify your readability.

	Readability score: What does it measure? Sentence, word length top elements of readable copy Readability formulas: Average number of words per sentence and syllables per word are the top components of the Flesch Kincaid Grade Level, the Flesch Reading Ease, the Automated Readability Index and other readability tests.

Before and afters: See how it’s done

Readability rockstars

Readability rockstars

Model these masters of clear writing

Going up! Gain inspiration from rewrites that boost readability scores by 20%, 200% — even 1,200%!

More on readability
	Resources on classic readability studies Websites, books & tools Dig into classic readability research to learn how to make today’s messages more readable.

	Quotes on readability What writers & others say “Write for the expert, but write so the non-expert can understand.” — Bernard Kilgore, celebrated Wall Street Journal editor

Get more tips on readability tips on Rev Up Readership.