Flesch Reading Ease: Score Meaning, Formula, and How to Improve It

Flesch Reading Ease is a quick way to sanity-check whether your text feels smooth or exhausting to read. If your emails, landing pages, or docs are hard to skim, the score helps you spot the two biggest culprits: long sentences and complex words.

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Quick answer: what the Flesch Reading Ease score means

The Flesch Reading Ease test scores English text using sentence length (words per sentence) and word complexity (syllables per word). Higher scores are easier to read. Lower scores are harder to read. Benchmarks can vary by platform. Limits can change - check the platform help center for the latest.

90-100: very easy (kid-friendly, simple instructions)
70-80: fairly easy (most general-audience web content)
60-70: standard/plain English (many business docs)
30-50: difficult (academic, legal, highly technical)

Two useful details: (1) scores are commonly shown on a 0-100 scale, but they can go below 0 or above 100 in extreme cases, and (2) the score is not a judgement of quality-it only reflects surface readability.

If you are building a writing workflow, pair readability with basics like consistent structure, clear headings, and sensible length. For counting constraints and editing workflows, start with Character count basics and keep a toolbox of helpers in Writing tools.

How the score is calculated (the formula)

Flesch Reading Ease (often shortened to FRES) is calculated as: 206.835 - 1.015 x (words/sentences) - 84.6 x (syllables/words). In plain terms: shorter sentences and simpler words push the score up.

Score ranges at a glance

Use the table below to pick a sensible target based on what you are writing and who will read it. Treat the ranges as guidance, not rules.

Flesch score	Readability label	Often fits	Editing focus
90-100	Very easy	Kids content, onboarding, simple how-tos	Short sentences, common words, define every term
80-89	Easy	FAQs, support articles, consumer copy	Cut clauses, prefer active voice, avoid stacked nouns
70-79	Fairly easy	Blog posts for broad audiences	Vary sentence length, remove filler, swap 4-syllable words
60-69	Standard	Business writing, newsletters, product docs	Split long sentences, explain jargon once, keep paragraphs short
50-59	Fairly difficult	Specialist audiences, detailed guides	Add signposts, examples, and bullets; reduce nesting
30-49	Difficult	Academic, legal, technical specs	Keep precision but shorten sentences; add glossary-style definitions

When to use (and not use) Flesch Reading Ease

Use it when you need fast feedback on readability while editing:

Polishing a blog post intro so readers do not bounce
Making instructions, onboarding, or help docs easier to follow
Checking whether a newsletter or sales email is too dense

Do not use it as the only KPI. A high score can still be vague, repetitive, or misleading. And a low score can be appropriate for expert audiences.

Improve readability faster

Get clearer rewrite options when you need to raise your Flesch score without rewriting from scratch.

Try QuillBot

How to calculate Flesch Reading Ease by hand (5 steps)

You do not need special software to understand the score. The manual version is just counting and dividing.

Count sentences: count sentence-ending punctuation, but treat abbreviations carefully (e.g., 'e.g.' is not a sentence).
Count words: count every token separated by spaces (hyphenated words are usually counted as one, depending on your rules).
Count syllables: estimate syllables per word (a dictionary-based method is most accurate, but a consistent estimate works for editing).
Compute averages: words/sentences and syllables/words.
Plug into the formula: 206.835 - 1.015 x (words/sentences) - 84.6 x (syllables/words).

Manual counting is useful because it shows what moves the needle: you can raise the score by (1) shortening sentences or (2) reducing syllables per word. Everything else is downstream.

How to find the score in Microsoft Word (optional shortcut)

If you use Word, you can display readability statistics after a spelling and grammar check. This is a fast way to compare drafts, but remember: different tools may segment sentences or syllables slightly differently, so treat the number as directional.

How to improve your Flesch score without dumbing down your writing

A better score usually comes from clearer thinking and cleaner structure, not just chopping sentences. Use this workflow:

1) Set a target based on audience

Pick a range (for example, 60-70 for business docs or 70-80 for broad web audiences). If you write for experts, a lower score may be fine.

2) Fix sentences before words

Split long sentences: one main idea per sentence, then add supporting details in the next sentence.
Reduce nesting: cut 'which', 'that', and parentheses when they stack up.
Prefer active voice when it reads naturally: it often reduces word count and ambiguity.

3) Swap complex words only when meaning stays intact

Replace inflated phrases (e.g., 'utilize') with simpler equivalents (e.g., 'use').
Turn abstract nouns into verbs where possible (e.g., 'reach a decision' to 'decide').
Keep necessary jargon, but define it once in plain language.

4) Add readability support that the formula does not measure

Front-load clarity: put the key point in the first sentence of a paragraph.
Use bullets for lists: especially steps, requirements, and comparisons.
Use examples: readers understand faster when they see a concrete case.

5) Re-check and stop when returns diminish

Edit in passes. After each pass, re-check the score and read the text out loud. If clarity improves but the score barely moves, that is normal: structure and cohesion matter more than a perfect number.

Practical editing checklist (copy/paste)

Cut intros that do not add value in the first 2-3 sentences.
Keep average sentence length in a comfortable range for your audience.
Replace 1-2 complex words per paragraph (only if meaning stays accurate).
Turn long comma chains into two sentences.
Define acronyms the first time they appear.

Mistakes to avoid

Chasing 90+ for everything: it can leave serious topics feeling childish or imprecise.
Gaming the score: swapping words blindly can change meaning and tone.
Over-splitting sentences: too many short sentences can feel choppy and annoy readers.
Ignoring layout: headings, spacing, and bullets often matter more than a few points of score.
Forgetting language limits: Flesch Reading Ease is designed for English; results for other languages are not comparable.

Tighten sentences without changing meaning

Generate rewrites

FAQ

What is a good Flesch Reading Ease score?

It depends on your audience. Many general-audience pieces land around 60-80. If you write for specialists, a lower score can be appropriate. Use the score to compare drafts, not to chase a universal target.

Can the score go above 100 or below 0?

Yes. The test is often shown as 0-100, but extreme combinations of very short sentences and very simple words can push it above 100, and dense academic writing can push it below 0.

Why did my score drop after adding references, product names, or acronyms?

Proper nouns, acronyms, and technical terms can increase syllables-per-word and sentence complexity. If you need those terms, keep them, then compensate with shorter sentences and clearer explanations around them.

Is Flesch Reading Ease an SEO ranking factor?

There is no public evidence that a single readability formula is a direct ranking factor. Still, clearer writing can improve engagement signals people actually care about: understanding, time on page, and task completion.

What is the difference between Flesch Reading Ease and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level?

Reading Ease outputs a score where higher is easier. Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level outputs an approximate US school grade level, where higher numbers mean harder text. Both rely on the same inputs (sentence length and syllables per word), just mapped differently.

Does it work for languages other than English?

The original formula is calibrated for English. Some tools offer localized variants, but you should not compare scores across languages unless you are using a validated, language-specific method.

A simple next step you can do today

Pick one page or email you want more people to understand.
Run a baseline score (or estimate it by counting a sample of sentences and words).
Edit in one pass: split the three longest sentences and replace three overly complex words.
Re-check the score, then do a fast skim test: can someone grasp the point in 10 seconds?

Optional help: speed up rewrites while staying on-message

If you are iterating on drafts often, a rewriting assistant can save time, as long as you review the output and keep the meaning accurate. QuillBot is useful when you want to improve readability without starting from scratch:

Paraphrase dense sentences into clearer alternatives while keeping the core idea.
Shorten or expand text to fit space constraints (subject lines, snippets, meta fields).
Run quick grammar and tone cleanups before you publish or send.

It is best for students, marketers, and writers who need faster editing cycles and want a few high-quality rewrite options. If you want a quick way to generate clearer alternatives, use QuillBot to paraphrase and tighten your copy, then do a final human pass for accuracy and voice.