Readability checker and word counter, live as you type

Every readability formula counts the same two things: how long your sentences are and how long your words are. They weigh them differently, so we show all of them and explain each one.

1. 1Flesch Reading Ease

   0–100, higher is easier. Uses words per sentence and syllables per word.

2. 2Flesch-Kincaid grade

   The same inputs, expressed as a US school grade.

3. 3Gunning Fog

   Grade estimate that weighs words of three or more syllables heavily.

4. 4SMOG

   Grade estimate from complex words, designed for samples of 30+ sentences.

5. 5Coleman-Liau

   Uses letters per word instead of syllables, so it's less sensitive to syllable guesses.

6. 6Counts

   Words, characters with and without spaces, sentences, paragraphs, reading and speaking time.

Very long sentences (over 30 words) are the biggest lever. Split them where there's an “and”, a “which” or a semicolon. One idea per sentence.

Passive voice hides who does what. “Taxes are deposited by the employer” becomes “The employer deposits taxes.” Our detector is a simple pattern (a form of “to be” plus a past participle), so it catches some adjectives too. Use judgement.

Adverbs and complex words aren't wrong. They're just worth a second look. “Significantly lower” usually wants a number instead; “utilise” almost always wants to be “use”.

When an AI answer quotes or paraphrases your page, short self-contained sentences survive intact. A 45-word sentence with three clauses gets cut up, and the part that carried your point may not make it. Plain writing also makes it easier for a model to tell what your page claims.

Once the writing reads well, check the structure with the Answer-Ready Content Checker and see what you repeat with the Keyword Density Checker.