Improve readability scores with these 4 free tools

Measure, monitor, manage and report 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.

Everyone benefits from more readable copy, according to new Nielsen Norman Group research — including CEOs, surgeons, engineers and other highly literate people.

To reach more readers and get the word out, measure, monitor and manage your message’s readability with these four free readability calculators:

1. Microsoft Word Readability Stats

Allow me to introduce your new best friend and writing assistant: Microsoft Word’s Readability Statistics. This handy device is probably already on your computer, although you might not be aware of it.

Whether you’re writing content marketing or PR pieces, you can use Readability Statistics to track and manage the clarity of your communications.

First, turn on Readability Statistics. Open a Word document. Then:

• PC users: Go to File > Options > Proofing > Click “Show readability statistics” box.
• Mac users: Go to Word > Preferences > Spelling and Grammar > Click “Show readability statistics” box.

Once you’ve turned Readability Statistics on, every time you run spelling and grammar check, you’ll get a box displaying a wealth of information about the readability of your message.

The fastest way to improve your score: Reduce the number of syllables per word and words per sentence. Those, according to 130 years of readability research, are the top two predictors of readability.

2. STORYToolz Readability Statistics

Plug in a chunk of copy, and STORYToolz will deliver a wealth of readability information — 34 pieces of data in all, from the words you use to start your sentences to the number of “to be” verbs.

Whether you’re writing email marketing messages or intranet articles, here are some things to look for in this readability scoring algorithm:

• Reading levels: You’ll get eight readability test scores, from the Automated Readability Index to SMOG (Simple Measure of Gobbledygook). Most measure how easy it is to read and understand your message.
• Sentence length: You’ll find everything from words per sentence to characters per word in this section of STORYtoolz.
• Word usage: Here, you’ll be able to: 1) Turn polysyllabic words into small ones; 2) Strengthen weak verbs; 3) Reduce the number of words that link phrases into long sentences; 4) Clarify confusing words.
• Sentence beginnings: Subject-verb-object sentences are the most readable. Make sure most of your sentences to start with a noun, followed almost immediately by a verb.

3. Hemingway App

WWHD? How would Ernest Hemingway, the master of tight prose, handle, say, your annual report?

Paste your copy into The Hemingway App to find out:

• Which sentences are hard to read
• How many adverbs your verbs are leaning on
• Which words or phrases could be simpler
• Where you’re using the passive voice

Unlike Readability Statistics and STORYtoolz, the Hemingway App also offers suggestions for making your copy clearer. Having trouble finding that passive sentence? Let Hemingway find it for you.

4. Datayze’s Readability Analyzer

Datayze’s Readability Analyzer estimates the readability of a passage of text using the six readability metrics, including the Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease, the Gunning Fog Index and Fry Reading Graph metrics.

I’ll be honest: I don’t trust the analytics on this one. But I do love the extra support.

Only have five minutes? Plug your copy in and click paragraph-level readability. Sort by descending difficulty, and you’ve got your readability to-do list, from worst offender to is-that-really-worth-my-time?

I’m also nuts for the Difficult and Extraneous Word Finder, Passive Voice Detector and Site Thin Content Checker.

Even highly literate readers understand better, read faster and enjoy more highly readable messages. These four tools can help you hit readability targets to serve your readers and your organization.

Make every message more readable.

Want more tools for improving readability scores?

If so, please join me at Write for Readability — our two-day clear-writing workshop on June 4-5 in Minneapolis.

There, you’ll get targets for 34 readability measures and tips for achieving them. You’ll walk away with clear-writing best practices based on 130 years of science and research.

Save $200 when you register by Dec. 31.