Check Flesch-Kincaid and other readability metrics. Make sure your content is easy to read.
Readability scores help you understand how easy your text is to read. The Flesch Reading Ease score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating easier readability.
| Score | Difficulty | Grade Level |
|---|---|---|
| 90-100 | Very Easy | 5th grade |
| 80-89 | Easy | 6th grade |
| 70-79 | Fairly Easy | 7th grade |
| 60-69 | Standard | 8th-9th grade |
| 50-59 | Fairly Difficult | 10th-12th grade |
| 30-49 | Difficult | College |
| 0-29 | Very Difficult | College Graduate |
Studies show that content with better readability scores performs better across all metrics. Users spend more time on pages they can easily understand, share them more often, and are more likely to take action. Major publications like The New York Times and BBC target 8th-grade reading levels for maximum reach.
The Flesch Reading Ease score is a readability metric that ranges from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate easier-to-read text. A score of 60-70 is considered ideal for general audiences, while scores above 80 are very easy to read and below 30 are very difficult.
The Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level indicates the U.S. school grade level needed to understand the text. For example, a grade level of 8 means an 8th grader can understand it. For web content, aim for grade 7-8 to reach the widest audience.
For general web content, aim for a Flesch Reading Ease score of 60-70 (8th-9th grade level). For marketing copy, aim higher (70-80). Academic and technical writing may score lower (30-50), but ensure it matches your audience's expertise level.
To improve readability: use shorter sentences (15-20 words average), choose simple words over complex ones, use active voice, break up long paragraphs, avoid jargon, and use bullet points and subheadings to organize content.
Readable content keeps users engaged longer, reducing bounce rates - a positive signal for search engines. Google prioritizes user experience, and content that's easy to read typically performs better in search rankings and gets more shares and backlinks.