The Flesch Reading Ease score was developed by Rudolf Flesch, an Austrian-American readability expert, and researcher. He created the formula to provide a measurement of readability that considers both the average length of words and the average number of syllables per word. This score is widely used by writers, editors, and marketers to evaluate the readability of written content and to ensure that it is accessible to the intended audience.
The Flesch Reading Ease score is a formula used to determine the readability of written text. It measures the level of difficulty in reading a text, taking into account factors such as sentence length and word complexity. The score ranges from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating that the text is easier to read. The score can be used to optimize the customer experience by making sure that the written content on a website is easy to understand for a broad range of visitors. By using a Flesch Reading Ease score tool, website owners can make adjustments to the language and structure of their content to ensure that it is clear, concise, and accessible to their target audience. This can improve user engagement and lead to a better overall user experience.
Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES) – Scale of readability
The Flesch Reading Ease score ranges from 0 to 100, where higher scores indicate easier-to-read content and lower scores indicate more difficult-to-read content. Here’s a general breakdown of the score ranges and their interpretations:
- 0-30: Very difficult to read
- 30-50: Difficult to read
- 50-60: Fairly difficult to read
- 60-70: Standard
- 70-80: Fairly easy to read
- 80-90: Easy to read
- 90-100: Very easy to read
Flesch Reading Ease score formula
The Flesch Reading Ease score formula is based on two metrics: the average number of syllables per word and the average number of words per sentence. The score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating that the text is easier to read and understand. The formula is calculated as follows:
Reading Ease Score = 206.835 - (1.015 x average number of words per sentence) - (84.6 x average number of syllables per word)
The Flesch Reading Ease score is a fixed formula, with specific variables and calculations that determine the score.
What is the difference to the Flesch Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL)?
The Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level is a variation of the Flesch Reading Ease score that assigns a US grade level to a piece of text based on its readability. It calculates the average number of years of education required to understand the text on a first reading. The formula for the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level is:
Flesch Kincaid Grade Level = 0.39 * (average words per sentence) + 11.8 * (average syllables per word) - 15.59
The scores produced by both the Flesch Reading Ease and the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level can vary based on the specific content being evaluated. The two scores provide slightly different information about the readability of a piece of text and can be used together to get a more complete picture of the text’s readability.