Readability statistics
Enable readability statistics
1. Click the File tab, and then click Options.
2. Click Proofing.
3. Under “When correcting spelling and grammar in Word”, make sure the “Check grammar with spelling” check box is selected.
4. Select “Show readability statistics”.
After you enable this feature, open a file that you want to check, and check the spelling. When Word finishes checking the spelling and grammar, it displays information about the reading level of the document.
Understand readability scores
Each readability test bases its rating on the average number of syllables per word and words per sentence. The following sections explain how each test scores your file's readability.
Number of Words per Sentence
If the number of words per sentence is very low, your sentences are short and choppy. This will earn you a low score on readability because your writing style is too elementary.
Flesch Reading Ease test
This test rates text on a 100-point scale. The higher the score, the easier it is to understand the document. For most standard files, you want the score to be between 60 and 70.
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level test
This test rates text on a U.S. school grade level. For example, a score of 8.0 indicates that an eighth grader can understand the document. For most documents, aim for a score of approximately 7.0 to 8.0.
How to Increase the Grade Level of Your Writing
1. Use the built-in Thesaurus to find synonyms especially for generic words such as good, big, bad, etc.
2. Look for short sentences and consider combining them.
3. Use “connector” words such as:
a. Therefore, consequently, as a result
b. However, although, conversely
c. In conclusion, finally
1. Click the File tab, and then click Options.
2. Click Proofing.
3. Under “When correcting spelling and grammar in Word”, make sure the “Check grammar with spelling” check box is selected.
4. Select “Show readability statistics”.
After you enable this feature, open a file that you want to check, and check the spelling. When Word finishes checking the spelling and grammar, it displays information about the reading level of the document.
Understand readability scores
Each readability test bases its rating on the average number of syllables per word and words per sentence. The following sections explain how each test scores your file's readability.
Number of Words per Sentence
If the number of words per sentence is very low, your sentences are short and choppy. This will earn you a low score on readability because your writing style is too elementary.
Flesch Reading Ease test
This test rates text on a 100-point scale. The higher the score, the easier it is to understand the document. For most standard files, you want the score to be between 60 and 70.
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level test
This test rates text on a U.S. school grade level. For example, a score of 8.0 indicates that an eighth grader can understand the document. For most documents, aim for a score of approximately 7.0 to 8.0.
How to Increase the Grade Level of Your Writing
1. Use the built-in Thesaurus to find synonyms especially for generic words such as good, big, bad, etc.
2. Look for short sentences and consider combining them.
3. Use “connector” words such as:
a. Therefore, consequently, as a result
b. However, although, conversely
c. In conclusion, finally