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Paste a draft — an email, a cover letter, a blog post, a speech — and see word count, reading time, readability grade and the sentences that are working too hard. Everything runs in your browser; nothing you type is uploaded.

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Readability checker

Your draft is saved on this device only, so you can close the tab and come back to it.

Six habits of clear writing

Scores are a guide, not a goal. These habits move the numbers in the right direction because they make text easier to read.

1

One idea per sentence

If a sentence needs two commas and an “and”, it probably holds two ideas. Split it.

2

Lead with the point

Put the request, answer or conclusion first. Readers skim; give them the main thing before the background.

3

Prefer short, common words

“Use” instead of “utilize”, “help” instead of “facilitate”. Short words lower the grade level without dumbing anything down.

4

Use active verbs

“The team approved the budget” is shorter and clearer than “The budget was approved by the team”.

5

Vary sentence length

Aim for an average of 15–20 words, but mix short and long sentences so the text has rhythm.

6

Read it aloud

Where you stumble, your reader will too. The speaking-time estimate also helps when you prepare a talk.

How the scores are calculated

The checker uses the Flesch Reading Ease formula, which looks at two things: how long your sentences are and how many syllables your words have. Scores run roughly from 0 to 100 — the higher the number, the easier the text. Everyday web writing usually lands between 60 and 70.

The grade level uses the Flesch–Kincaid formula and estimates the years of school a reader needs to follow the text comfortably. Most popular newspapers aim for grade 8 to 10.

What the numbers can't tell you

Formulas count; they don't understand. A short sentence can still be confusing, and a technical audience may be happy with a higher grade. Use the score to spot problem areas, then trust your judgment — and your readers.

Reading and speaking time

Reading time assumes about 230 words per minute for adults reading on screen. Speaking time assumes about 140 words per minute, a comfortable pace for a presentation.

Frequently asked questions

Is my text stored or sent anywhere?

No. All counting and scoring happens in your browser. The draft is kept in your browser’s local storage so it survives a refresh; press Clear to remove it.

What is a good Flesch Reading Ease score?

For general web content, 60–70 is a comfortable target. Scores above 70 read very easily; scores below 50 suit specialist readers. Aim for what your audience expects rather than a fixed number.

Why is a sentence marked as long?

Sentences over 25 words are listed so you can decide whether to split them. Long sentences are not wrong, but several in a row make text tiring to read.

How accurate is the syllable count?

It uses a common English heuristic based on vowel groups, so it can be off by a syllable on unusual words. The overall score is reliable enough to compare drafts.

Does it work for languages other than English?

Word, character and time counts work for any language that separates words with spaces. The readability formulas are designed for English, so treat their scores as rough for other languages.

Is this site connected to any person named in the domain?

No. This is an independent writing-tools site. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or speaking for any individual who shares the name in the domain.

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