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Readability Checker

See how easy your writing is to read, and which sentences make it hard. Like the Hemingway editor, without uploading anything.

Runs in your browser · No uploads

  • Nothing leaves your device
  • No server-imposed size limits
  • No sign-up, no watermark
  • Free

How to check readability

  1. Paste or type your text.
  2. Read the grade level and reading ease at the top.
  3. Shorten the sentences marked as hard, and look at the adverbs, passive voice and wordy phrases marked in the text.

The scores

  • Grade level: the US school grade needed to read the text easily, the average of five standard formulas. Most readers are comfortable at grade 8 or below.
  • Flesch Reading Ease: from 0 to 100; 60 to 70 is plain English, higher is easier.
  • Flesch-Kincaid, Gunning Fog, SMOG, Coleman-Liau and the Automated Readability Index are listed separately under "All readability scores".
  • Reading time at 238 words per minute, words per sentence and the share of complex words (three or more syllables).

What is marked

  • Hard sentences (yellow) and very hard sentences (red): long, with long words. Split them or use simpler words.
  • Adverbs ending in -ly: often a stronger verb says it better ("ran" instead of "moved quickly").
  • Passive voice ("was written by"): saying who does what is usually clearer.
  • Wordy phrases ("in order to", "due to the fact that") with shorter choices.

Good to know

The formulas count words, sentences and syllables, so they work best on English prose of 100 words or more. Syllables are counted with a heuristic that is right for most words. A good score doesn't guarantee good writing, but a bad one usually points at sentences worth fixing.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good readability score?

For a general audience, aim for grade 8 or below and a Flesch Reading Ease of 60 or higher. Technical and academic texts are naturally harder.

Is this a free Hemingway editor alternative?

It marks hard sentences, adverbs and passive voice in the same way, and adds several readability formulas. It runs in your browser and is free.

Is my text uploaded?

No. The analysis happens in your browser.

Guides for this tool