READABILITY Tool Tip in MS Word
Creating materials for students, patients, families at all literacy levels.
Questions? Contact studenthealthinfo@usc.edu
Keep your writing easy to understand.
In MS Word, there is a tool to help “score” a document using the Flesch-Kincaid reading scale.
The gives you the grade-level (difficulty) and the reading ease (for scanning or reading quickly).
For audiences with English as a second language, or readers who will “skip to” quick and easy content (ads, handouts) generally aim for a reading grade level of 10th - 11th grade; and a Flesch-Kincaid score of 50-60 (as close to 60 as possible).
HOW TO ACCESS THE SCORE IN MS WORD
o PC: (365 online) Open your Word document. Select the Home tab. Choose Editor, and then go to Document stats.
o PC on desktop: Go to File, then Options. (2) Select 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.”
o MAC: TOOLS > SPELLING & GRAMMAR > EDITOR > DOCUMENT STATS
o Other Word versions, instructions are available on the MS Office website
o Shorter sentences, simple words instead of complex words. See examples on the next page.
A summary from a government website, intended for policymakers.
Reading ease score: 29.9
Grade level: 14.2
HIGH DIFFICULTY
Source: https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/publications/covid-decade-understanding-the-long-term-societal-impacts-ofcovid-19
Source: https://www.ssa.gov/scam/
Source: https://www.ssa.gov/fraud/assets/materials/EN-05-10597.pdf
Scam warning from a government website, intended for general public, but likely geared to mediators like other agencies.
Reading ease score: 42.1
Grade level: 10.6
MODERATE DIFFICULTY
Scam warning poster, likely intended for general public of all literacy levels
Reading ease score: 62.2
Grade level: 6.3
VERY ACCESSIBLE