Paste your text. See the reading grade in a second. Then fix the sentences the tool marks for you.
- 100% free
- No sign-up
- Works in your browser
- Nothing is stored
This free readability checker tells you how easy your writing is to read. It shows a reading grade, a reading ease score and the average sentence length. It does not stop at a score. It marks the exact sentences and words that make your text hard. It also suggests simpler words you can use instead.
How to check the readability of your text
- Paste your textCopy your article, email or page and paste it into the box.
- Pick a target gradeGrade 6–8 suits most websites. Pick grade 6 for very simple text.
- Read the coloursRed means a very long sentence. Yellow means long. Purple marks a hard word or phrase.
- Fix and recheckEdit the text in the box. The score updates as you type.
What the tool checks
| Check | What it means | How to fix it |
|---|---|---|
| Reading grade | The school grade that can read your text easily | Use shorter sentences and words |
| Very long sentence | More than 25 words | Split it into two or three sentences |
| Many “and”s | Two or more “and” in one sentence | End the sentence before the second “and” |
| Hard word or phrase | Words like utilize or in order to | Hover to see a simple choice, like use or to |
| Passive voice | “It was fixed” instead of “We fixed it” | Say who does the action |
| -ly adverbs | Words like really or quickly | Cut them or use a stronger verb |
Our test: one old sentence, one clear page
Same tool, very different scores
We ran three real pieces of text through the checker. First, the opening sentence of the 1776 Declaration of Independence. Second, the full text of our own Compress PDF page. Third, a wordy 46-word paragraph we wrote on purpose.
The 1776 sentence scored grade 29.9 because all 71 words sit in one sentence. Our tool page scored 2.4, with under 10 words per sentence on average. In the wordy paragraph, the checker found 6 hard words or phrases. It also found 2 passive sentences. One sentence had too many “and”s. We split the long sentence. Then we swapped utilize for use, and prior to for before. The grade fell from 8.9 to 1.6.
What is a good readability score?
| Reading grade | Reading ease | Who can read it easily |
|---|---|---|
| 5–6 | 80–90 | Almost everyone, including people learning English |
| 7–8 | 60–80 | Most adults. Best for blogs, product pages and emails |
| 9–12 | 40–60 | High school readers. Fine for expert guides |
| 13+ | Below 40 | College level. Hard for most web readers |
Writing for people who speak English as a second language? Aim for grade 6–8. Keep most sentences under 15 words, and use one idea per sentence.
How the score is worked out
The reading grade uses the Flesch–Kincaid formula. It looks at two things: how many words are in each sentence, and how many syllables are in each word. Long sentences and long words push the grade up. The reading ease score uses the same two numbers, but a higher score means easier text.
No formula is perfect. A short sentence with a rare word can still confuse readers. That is why this tool also marks hard words by name. You can see exactly what to change.
Frequently asked questions
Is this readability checker free?
Yes. There is no limit, no sign-up and no word cap.
Is my text saved or sent anywhere?
No. The checker runs inside your browser. Your text is not uploaded or stored.
What grade level should a blog post be?
Most blogs do well at grade 7 or 8. Simple product and help pages can aim for grade 6.
Does readability help SEO?
Google does not use a reading score as a ranking factor. But clear text keeps people reading, and helps them find answers fast. That is what search engines want to reward.
Can it check other languages?
The formula and the word list are made for English. Scores for other languages will not be accurate.
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Final thoughts
Good writing is not about big words. It is about being understood the first time. This readability checker gives you a clear grade, then shows the exact sentences that make your text hard. Long sentences turn red or yellow. Hard words turn purple, and a simple choice appears when you hover. Sentences packed with “and” get underlined, so you know where to cut them.
Our test showed how much small changes matter. A wordy paragraph dropped from grade 8.9 to 1.6 after a few simple fixes. Aim for grade 6–8 for most web pages, and keep most sentences under 15 words. Your text never leaves your device, so you can check drafts, client work and private emails safely.