Readability and Headline Analyser
Readable copy gets read. Short sentences and familiar words let more of the audience understand a message on the first pass, which matters most on a phone. Readability formulas measure two things that predict difficulty: sentence length and word length.
Everything above runs in your browser and saves to this device only. Paste a headline and body copy. The scores and the chart update as you type.
How it works
Syllables are estimated from groups of vowels, which is accurate enough for scoring but can miss on unusual words.
Flesch-Kincaid grade = 0.39 × (words ÷ sentences) + 11.8 × (syllables ÷ words) − 15.59
A reading ease of 60 or more reads as plain English. Sentences over 25 words are marked in the text. Passive phrases are flagged by pattern, a form of “to be” followed by a past participle, so check each one by eye.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Flesch reading ease score?
The Flesch reading ease score is a readability formula based on sentence length and syllables per word. Scores run roughly from 0 to 100, higher is easier, and 60 to 70 reads as plain English for most adults.
How is the Flesch-Kincaid grade level calculated?
Flesch-Kincaid grade level is 0.39 times the average words per sentence, plus 11.8 times the average syllables per word, minus 15.59. The result approximates the US school grade needed to follow the text.
What is a good sentence length for web copy?
An average of 15 to 20 words per sentence suits most audiences. This tool marks sentences over 25 words, since those are the ones readers most often lose.
What makes a good headline for SEO?
A good SEO headline fits about 600 pixels in search results, puts the target keyword early, and makes a specific promise, often with a number. This tool checks each of those.
Is this Readability and Headline Analyser free?
Yes. The Readability and Headline Analyser is free and opens straight away in any modern browser, including on a phone. Everything you enter is processed in your browser and stays on your device.