Guide to using MS word readability statistics to make documents more accessible to second language learners, reluctant readers etc.

1. MS Readability Statistics
• Understanding how they work
• How they can help readability

2. Readability Statistics in MS Word

3. What am I looking for?
Easy to read texts have low numbers in the
following:
passive voice
words per sentence
characters per word
Flesch Reading Grade level
Aim for a high number (60+) for Flesch
3

4. Academic Essays/
Assignments
How easy to read?
Here is an analysis of an
assignment brief for a low level.
Sentences per paragraph: 1
(low)
Words per sentence: 12 (high)
Characters per word: 5.3 (low)
Passive: 9% (very high)
Flesch Reading Ease: (30.4 ) (very
high)
Flsch Kikaid: 12.1 (very high)
Analysis
Text: use of passive voice,
number of long sentences.
Vocabulary score slightly
misleading because of amount of
repetition.