What is the Flesch Reading Ease score? +
The Flesch Reading Ease score measures how easy a piece of text is to read, on a scale of 0–100. Higher scores mean easier to read. It was developed by Rudolf Flesch in 1948 and is still widely used today. The formula considers average sentence length and average number of syllables per word.
What is a good Flesch Reading Ease score? +
For general web content and blog posts, aim for a score of 60–70 ("Standard" to "Fairly Easy"). Academic papers typically score 30–50. Marketing copy and landing pages often target 70–80. A score above 80 is easy enough for most 11-year-olds to understand, which is great for broad audiences.
Does readability affect SEO? +
Indirectly, yes. Google does not use Flesch score as a ranking signal, but readability affects user behavior: easier-to-read content keeps visitors on the page longer (lower bounce rate, higher dwell time), which correlates with higher rankings. Readable content is also more likely to earn backlinks and shares.
How can I improve my readability score? +
The most effective improvements are: (1) break long sentences into shorter ones (aim for under 20 words per sentence), (2) replace multi-syllable words with simpler synonyms where possible, (3) use active voice instead of passive voice, and (4) use subheadings and bullet points to break up dense paragraphs.
What are "complex words" in the readability analysis? +
Complex words are words with 3 or more syllables (e.g., "communication", "understanding", "approximately"). A high percentage of complex words lowers your readability score. You don't need to eliminate all complex words, but if more than 10% of your words are complex, consider simplifying your vocabulary where clarity allows.