http://www.addedbytes.com/article/readability-score/Latest comments on Check Text Readability on AddedBytes.comhttp://www.addedbytes.com/article/readability-score/comments/http://www.addedbytes.com/article/readability-score/comments/Comment by Luis Cavique ( <a href="http://lcavique.no.sapo.pt">http://lcavique.no.sapo.pt</a> )<br /><br />Something is wrong in the output: <br /> Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease: 58.9 (?)<br /> Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease: 10.9 (?)<br /> <br /> I think the correct output is:<br /> Flesch Reading Ease: 58.9 <br /> Flesch-Kincaid Grade: 10.9http://www.addedbytes.com/article/readability-score/comments/http://www.addedbytes.com/article/readability-score/comments/Comment by Theresa ( <a href=""></a> )<br /><br />I think it is great that you displayed so many different readability formulas. I am a long time teacher and I use leveled text with students. I decided to compare the readabilities here with text that had been leveled using Reading Recovery, IRI, and F&P materials that have been leveled by having students read the text. I knew the levels of the text I put in. What this showed me was that none of the readability formulas is accurate all of the time because a large part of reading depends on the readers interaction with the text. Flesh-Kincaid was accurate 50% of the time and when it is off it is usually but not always high; SMOG was accurate about 40% of the time for all but two of the 40 samples I used it was high when it was off; The Gunning and Coleman indexes were accurate 0% of the time generally they were 3-4 years high but sometimes as much as 7 years high and then on a couple of occasions low; The automated readibility was accurate 50% of the time on text over 4th grade when it was not accurate it was equally incorrect on the high side half the time and the low side half the time. On text below 4th grade reading level it was only accurate 5% of the time and generally high. <br /> <br /> My suggestion to anyone leveling text is that you may be able to use an index of this nature to get an apporximate level - especially on text at a 4th grade level or above, but then you really need to have real people whose reading level is known read the text you are checking to get an accurate level. it is certainly more work but the only way to really make sure that what you are writing will fit your audience. If you are a teacher trying to level a text the same is true, this can give you an approximate level, but then you have to check the text against your students actual reaing levels. <br /> <br /> By the way on when the site reports the results it says Flesh-Kincaid Reading ease for the reading ease % and then it says Flesh -Kincaid Reading Ease again when it should just say Flesh-Kincaid level or Flesh-Kincaid Score. <br /> http://www.addedbytes.com/article/readability-score/comments/http://www.addedbytes.com/article/readability-score/comments/Comment by Rob ( <a href=""></a> )<br /><br />Very cool! I teach technical writing to high school students and one lesson is on calculating readability. They just love to pack a paragraph full of jargon and say, "Hey, it sounds technical!" This will save me from bashing my head against that bit of concrete that block my students' understanding. We'll use this in class this fall. Thanks!http://www.addedbytes.com/article/readability-score/comments/http://www.addedbytes.com/article/readability-score/comments/Comment by Monica ( <a href=""></a> )<br /><br />Dave or anyone with an answer; I just have 2 questions:<br /> 1. Where can I find the explanation of the different scores. I know what the FK Readability scores mean but what is the Gunnig Fog and the others listed on your readability scores? <br /> 2. Also, could anyone explain how an FK Reading Ease score of 31 means college graduate but the Grade Level score is still 12? <br /> Thanks for this gadget, I am beginning to learn how to use the APA writing format and tools like this have really helped me adjust my writing skills.http://www.addedbytes.com/article/readability-score/comments/http://www.addedbytes.com/article/readability-score/comments/Comment by Tony ( <a href="http://milnews.ca">http://milnews.ca</a> )<br /><br />Great to see this tool still available online.<br /> <br /> Only minor glitch I've encountered - when assessing copy, I get "Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease" twice - should the lower number be the Grade?<br /> <br /> Thanks again and keep up the great work!http://www.addedbytes.com/article/readability-score/comments/http://www.addedbytes.com/article/readability-score/comments/Comment by Dave Child ( <a href="http://www.addedbytes.com">http://www.addedbytes.com</a> )<br /><br />sheri: Counting syllables programatically is tricky, and that is likely to be the pain cause of discrepancies. That's why the code behind this tool has a large set of tests to check syllable counting.<br /> <br /> Paco: Glad you like the design. The hints are missing as I'm working on improving the presentation of the results, and working on finding good quality information on what the optimal scores actually are. Most results (except Reading Ease) are, I believe, based on US grade levels.http://www.addedbytes.com/article/readability-score/comments/http://www.addedbytes.com/article/readability-score/comments/Comment by Paco ( <a href=""></a> )<br /><br />Love the new design. I noticed after your site scores the text the hints next to the scores are missing, the ones that hinted where you would want the score to be around. Is there a reason you took them off? Is it possible to get those back, it helps me know how close I was.http://www.addedbytes.com/article/readability-score/comments/http://www.addedbytes.com/article/readability-score/comments/Comment by sheri ( <a href=""></a> )<br /><br />Dave,<br /> <br /> I have a question. I am trying to find the readability of questions ona reading test. I am typing each writing prompt into readability checkers such as yours. I get a different level for the Flesch Kincaid and Gunning-Fog depending on the checker I use. There are trends that show a common relationship among the increasing and decreasing difficulties from one question to another, but each question checks in at a different level. Can you explain why this may be?http://www.addedbytes.com/article/readability-score/comments/http://www.addedbytes.com/article/readability-score/comments/Comment by Dave Child ( <a href="http://www.addedbytes.com">http://www.addedbytes.com</a> )<br /><br />Joe: Well spotted. I've corrected that and added in the code you posted. Thanks.http://www.addedbytes.com/article/readability-score/comments/http://www.addedbytes.com/article/readability-score/comments/Comment by multiple readability sites ( <a href=""></a> )<br /><br />I am using a couple of other sites as well to decide the readability level (mainly FK) of several sites am using for my research. The problem is ilovejackdaniels, juicystudio, and readability.info, all three show three different grades for the same text. Is there any way I can justify this in my research? And which one shall I consider?