How to choose the best readability formula for your document
Currently, there are more than 200 readability formulas developed by various scholars since the 1940s. Only a few of these formulas are reliable in determining the reading level of sample text. This article will help you decide which readability formula or formulas to use in your documents. Identify your industry and then select the appropriate readability formula.
EDUCATION
The primary role of the education sector is to convey a good education to students at different grade levels. Written text in the form of textbooks, magazines, literature, etc. it constitutes the backbone of a good educational system. Here are different readability formulas to use in your documents based on grade level:
1. Dale-Chall: The Dale-Chall readability formula is a general formula suitable for all types of text.
2. Spache: Spache’s readability formula is ideal for texts for students up to 3rd grade.
3. Powers-Sumner-Kearl: The Powers-Sumner-Kearl readability dormula is ideal for texts aimed at primary school children (7-10 years old).
4. SMOG: McLaughlin’s SMOG readability formula is appropriate for texts intended for high school readers (fourth grade at college level).
5. Flesch Reading Ease: The Flesch Reading Ease readability formula is a general formula suitable for all types of texts.
6. Gunning Fog – The Gunning Fog Index readability formula is ideal for business-oriented educational material such as business journals and magazines.
7. Fry Graph: The Fry Graph readability formula is a general formula suitable for all types of texts.
8. Coleman-Liau: The Coleman-Liau readability formula is ideal for texts aimed at college-level 4th grade readers.
9. McAlpine EFLAW: The McAlpine EFLAW readability formula is ideal for determining the readability of English texts for ESL / EFL (English as a Second Language / Foreign Language) readers.
HEALTH CARE
The healthcare industry produces a large body of relevant literature for patients, physicians, pharmacists, researchers, etc. Here are some tips for deciding which readability formula (s) to use:
1. Dale-Chall: Useful for any type of text.
2. Flesch Reading Ease: Useful for any type of text.
3. Fry Graph: Useful for any type of text.
4. Gunning Fog: Ideal for business publications and magazines.
5. New Fog Count: Useful for technical documents and manuals.
6. FORECAST: Ideal for manuals and technical forms.
7. Raygor estimation chart: Useful for any type of text, including literature and technical documents.
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
Military and government agencies developed several important readability formulas to measure the readability of enlistment applications and technical manuals. Military and government agencies often use these readability formulas:
1. Automated Readability Index (ARI) – Ideal for technical documents and manuals.
2. Flesch Reading Ease: Useful for any type of text.
3. Flesch-Kincaid – Ideal for manuals, forms, and other technical documents.
4. FORECAST – Most appropriate for multiple choice questionnaires, applications, entry forms, etc.
5. Linsear Write: ideal for technical manuals.
PUBLICATION
The publishing industry includes newspapers, magazines, books, magazines, and online media. Editors mainly use the following readability formulas to make their documents legible:
1. Dale-Chall: Useful for any type of text.
2. Flesch Reading Ease: Useful for any type of text.
3. Fry Graph: Useful for any type of text.
4. Spache: Ideal for texts aimed at students up to 3rd grade.
5. Powers-Sumner-Kearl: ideal for text directed at elementary school children (7-10 years old).
6. SMOG: Appropriate for texts aimed at high school readers (4th grade at college level).
7. Gunning Fog – Ideal for trade publications and magazines.
8. Coleman-Liau: Ideal for text aimed at college-level 4th grade readers.
9. Raygor estimation chart: Useful for any type of text, including literature and technical documents.
10. Laesbarheds Index (LIX): useful for documents in any Western European language.