Readability score

What is a good Flesch Reading Ease score?

Flesch Reading Ease scores range from 0 to 100. Scores of 60–70 are considered plain English, suitable for general audiences. Scores above 70 are easy to read (think popular novels or newspapers). Scores below 30 are very difficult, typical of academic journals and legal documents. For web content, aim for 60 or above — most online readers prefer clear, direct writing.

How can I improve my readability score?

The most effective ways to improve readability are: use shorter sentences (aim for an average of 15–20 words), choose common words over complex ones, use active voice instead of passive, break long paragraphs into shorter ones, and avoid jargon unless writing for a specialist audience. Reading your text aloud is a quick way to identify sentences that are too long or awkward.

Does readability score matter for SEO?

Google's official position is that readability is not a direct ranking factor. However it has a significant indirect effect — readable content keeps visitors on your page longer, reduces bounce rate, and is more likely to be shared and linked to, all of which do affect rankings. For most web content, writing clearly for your audience will naturally produce better SEO outcomes than trying to optimise for a specific score.

What reading level should I write for?

For general web content and blogs, aim for a Grade 6–8 reading level — this is the level of a typical newspaper and is accessible to the widest audience. For professional or technical content, Grade 10–12 is acceptable. Academic writing sits at Grade 12 and above. Writing below your audience's expected level is rarely a problem; writing above it causes people to disengage and leave.