Flesch Reading Ease Score Reference Table
| Score | Level | Suitable For |
|---|---|---|
| 90–100 | Very Easy | Children's books, simple instructions |
| 80–90 | Easy | Conversational English, consumer communication |
| 70–80 | Fairly Easy | Popular fiction, lifestyle blogs |
| 60–70 | Standard | Most online articles, school textbooks |
| 50–60 | Fairly Difficult | Academic writing, professional articles |
| 30–50 | Difficult | University-level content, scientific journals |
| 0–30 | Very Difficult | Legal documents, technical specifications |
How to Improve Your Readability Score
If your readability score is lower than you'd like, there are several practical techniques to bring it up without diluting the quality of your content.
Shorten Your Sentences
The single biggest factor in the Flesch formula is average sentence length. Splitting long sentences into two shorter ones immediately increases your score. Look for sentences that contain two ideas joined by "and", "but", or "however" — these are prime candidates for splitting.
Use Shorter Words
The Flesch formula also weighs average syllable count per word. Replacing multi-syllable technical terms with shorter everyday equivalents helps: "use" instead of "utilise", "show" instead of "demonstrate", "help" instead of "assist".
Avoid Passive Voice
Passive constructions ("the report was written by the team") are harder to read and often longer than their active equivalents ("the team wrote the report"). Active voice improves clarity and typically produces a better readability score.
Break Text into Paragraphs
Short paragraphs with clear topic sentences make text easier to scan and digest. Aim for 3–5 sentences per paragraph for articles, or 2–3 sentences for web content aimed at mobile readers.