Brief guide with audio on how to use MS Word Readability Statistics. Aimed at teachers of English language learners, children, reluctant readers etc

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

2. 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
2

3. Readability Statistics in MS Word

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.

5. eslreading.org - free learning materials
for English language learners
kieran@eslreading. org
http://www.eslreading.org/ 5