The Flesch Reading Ease score measures how easy your text is to read, using a scale from 0 to 100 where higher scores indicate easier reading. A score of 60-70 is considered ideal for most web content, equivalent to an 8th-9th grade reading level that the average adult can comfortably understand. Scores below 30 indicate college-graduate difficulty, while scores above 90 suggest content simple enough for a 5th grader.

Understanding and improving your Flesch score helps you reach more readers with clearer, more accessible writing.

The Flesch Reading Ease Scale

Target for web content: 60-70 (readable by approximately 80% of adults)

Benchmarks: Reader’s Digest scores ~65; Time Magazine scores ~52

The Formula Behind the Score

The Flesch Reading Ease formula calculates readability based on two factors:

Formula: 206.835 - 1.015 x (words/sentences) - 84.6 x (syllables/words)

What this measures:

• Sentence length: Longer sentences = lower score (harder to read)
• Word complexity: More syllables per word = lower score (harder to read)

Simplified understanding:

• Short sentences → Higher score
• Short words → Higher score
• Long, complex sentences with multi-syllable words → Lower score

Why Readability Matters

For Web Content

Reader behavior data:

• Average reader spends 15 seconds scanning before deciding to stay or leave
• 55% of visitors spend fewer than 15 seconds on a page
• Content at grade 6-8 level gets more engagement than complex content

SEO implications:

• Readable content keeps visitors longer (reducing bounce rate)
• Engaged readers share content more often
• Google’s algorithms increasingly favor user experience

For Professional Communication

Clear writing correlates with:

• Faster comprehension
• Better retention of information
• Higher compliance with instructions
• Fewer follow-up questions

For Accessibility

• Approximately 54% of U.S. adults read below a 6th-grade level
• Simpler text is more inclusive
• Non-native speakers benefit from clear writing
• Mobile reading favors shorter sentences and words

How to Check Your Flesch Score

Microsoft Word

1. Go to File → Options → Proofing
2. Check “Show readability statistics”
3. Run spell check (Review → Spelling & Grammar)
4. Readability stats appear after spell check completes

Online Tools

Dedicated readability tools:

• Hemingway Editor (free)
• Readable.com
• WebFX Readability Test
• Grammarly (premium feature)

Word counting tools with readability: Many character counters include readability analysis alongside word and character counts.

Grammarly and Writing Assistants

Most modern writing assistants display readability scores:

• Grammarly shows overall score in the sidebar
• ProWritingAid provides detailed readability analysis
• Yoast SEO plugin shows Flesch score for WordPress posts

Understanding Related Readability Metrics

The Flesch Reading Ease isn’t the only readability measure. Here are others you might encounter:

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level

Related but different: Uses similar inputs but outputs a U.S. grade level rather than a score.

Formula: 0.39 × (words/sentences) + 11.8 × (syllables/words) - 15.59

Example result: “Grade 8.5” means an 8th-grader could understand the text.

Gunning Fog Index

Focuses on: Complex words (3+ syllables)

Ideal score: 7-8 for broad audiences

Calculation includes: Percentage of “hard words” in your text

SMOG Index

Designed for: Healthcare and educational materials

Calculates: Number of polysyllabic words in a sample

Best for: Content where comprehension is critical (medical instructions, safety information)

Dale-Chall Readability

Uses: List of 3,000 “familiar” words

Measures: Percentage of unfamiliar words in text

Useful for: Educational content and ESL materials

How to Improve Your Flesch Score

Strategy 1: Shorten Sentences

Before (complex): “The implementation of the new software system, which was developed over the course of eighteen months by our internal development team, will require all employees to complete a comprehensive training program before they can begin using the system in their daily work.”

After (simpler): “Our team spent eighteen months developing new software. All employees must complete training before using it.”

Result: Score improved from ~25 to ~65

Practical tips:

• Target 15-20 words per sentence
• Break sentences at natural pause points
• Use periods instead of semicolons
• One idea per sentence

Strategy 2: Use Simpler Words

Replace complex words:

Word syllable impact:

• “Use” (1 syllable) vs “utilize” (3 syllables)
• “Help” (1 syllable) vs “facilitate” (4 syllables)
• Fewer syllables = higher readability score

Strategy 3: Eliminate Filler

Cut unnecessary words:

• “In order to” → “To”
• “Due to the fact that” → “Because”
• “At this point in time” → “Now”
• “Has the ability to” → “Can”
• “In the event that” → “If”
• “For the purpose of” → “For” or “To”

Each cut word improves your score by reducing average sentence length.

Strategy 4: Use Active Voice

Passive voice (harder): “The report was written by the committee and was submitted to management.”

Active voice (easier): “The committee wrote the report and submitted it to management.”

Active voice benefits:

• Typically shorter sentences
• Clearer subject-action relationship
• More engaging to read

Strategy 5: Break Up Paragraphs

While paragraph length doesn’t directly affect Flesch scores, shorter paragraphs:

• Create visual breathing room
• Make content easier to scan
• Encourage continued reading

Target 2-4 sentences per paragraph for web content.

When to Ignore Readability Scores

Technical documentation: If your audience is experts, using technical terms is appropriate and expected. A Flesch score of 30 might be perfect for a medical journal.

Legal requirements: Some contexts require specific terminology regardless of readability.

Academic writing: Scholarly journals often have different conventions that prioritize precision over accessibility.

Brand voice: If sophisticated vocabulary is part of your brand identity, don’t sacrifice it entirely for readability.

The key: Know your audience and write appropriately for them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s a good Flesch score for blog posts?

Aim for 60-70 for general audiences. This ensures broad accessibility while maintaining professional quality.

Can my score be too high?

Technically, yes. A score of 95+ might feel overly simplistic for adult audiences. But erring on the side of clarity rarely hurts.

Do headings and bullet points affect the score?

Most tools count all text including headings. Shorter headings and bullet points typically improve your score.

How does technical jargon affect readability?

Multi-syllable technical terms lower your score. If you must use jargon, balance it with simple sentence structure.

Does readability affect SEO rankings?

Not directly, but readable content improves engagement metrics (time on page, bounce rate) that do influence rankings.

How often should I check readability?

Check during editing, not while drafting. Let your first draft flow naturally, then optimize for readability in revision.

Key Takeaways

• The Flesch Reading Ease score ranges from 0-100, with higher scores indicating easier reading
• Formula: 206.835 - 1.015 x (words/sentences) - 84.6 x (syllables/words)
• Score ranges: 90-100 = 5th grade, 70-79 = 7th grade, 60-69 = 8th-9th grade, 30-49 = College, 0-29 = Graduate
• Target 60-70 for most web content (8th-9th grade level)
• Improve scores by shortening sentences, using simpler words, and eliminating filler
• Use active voice and break up long paragraphs for better readability

Conclusion

The Flesch Reading Ease score provides a concrete way to measure and improve your writing’s accessibility. While not every piece needs to score 70+, understanding what affects readability helps you make intentional choices about your content. Write for your audience first, then use readability metrics to identify opportunities for clarity. Try our free letter counter → to analyze your text’s word count and structure as part of your readability optimization process.