Limato
Readability Checker
Check how easy your writing is to read. Get the Flesch Reading Ease score and US grade level instantly, live as you type. Free, no signup.
What is a good readability score?
The Flesch Reading Ease score runs 0–100. Higher means easier to read. Rough guide:
- 90–100: Very easy — 5th grade
- 70–80: Fairly easy — 7th grade
- 60–70: Plain English — 8th–9th grade (aim here for a general audience)
- 30–50: Difficult — college level
- 0–30: Very confusing — graduate level
Most web and business writing should target 60–70.
How the Flesch score is calculated
The score is based on two things: the average number of words per sentence, and the average number of syllables per word. Shorter sentences and shorter words raise the score. The exact formula is 206.835 − 1.015 × (words / sentences) − 84.6 × (syllables / words). The grade-level cell converts the same inputs into a US school grade.
How to improve readability, especially as a non-native writer
- Cut sentences to one idea each — split anything over 25 words.
- Swap heavy words for common ones ("use" not "utilize").
- Delete filler openers ("It is important to note that…").
- Read it aloud — if you run out of breath, the sentence is too long.
Or paste it into Limato and get a native-sounding rewrite that is naturally shorter and clearer.
Write it right, not just count it
Limato's Chrome extension rewrites clunky non-native English into natural, native-sounding text on any website — Gmail, Slack, LinkedIn, Notion. 20 free rewrites a day.
Add to Chrome — FreeFrequently asked questions
What readability score should I aim for?
For a general audience, aim for 60 to 70 — plain English, around 8th to 9th grade. Technical or academic writing runs lower; content for children runs higher.
What is Flesch Reading Ease?
A 0 to 100 score where higher means easier to read. It is based on sentence length and word length in syllables. Developed by Rudolf Flesch, it is the most widely used readability metric.
What is the difference between reading ease and grade level?
Reading Ease is a 0 to 100 score where higher is easier. Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level maps the same inputs to a US school grade — 8.0 means an average 8th grader can read it.
Is the readability score accurate?
Readability formulas are estimates based on sentence and word length. They do not judge meaning or logic, but they are a reliable proxy for how hard text feels to read.
Why does my English score low?
Non-native writers often build long, formal sentences with heavy words, which lowers readability. Shorten sentences and swap complex words for common ones — or let Limato rewrite it natively.