Readability test
Encyclopedia
For the main article, see Readability
Readability tests, readability formulas, or readability metrics are formulae for evaluating the readability
of text, usually by counting syllable
s, word
s, and sentence
s. Readability tests are often used as an alternative to conducting an actual statistical survey
of human readers of the subject text (a readability survey
). Word processing applications often have readability tests built-in, which can be deployed on documents in-editing.
The application of a useful readability test protocol will give a rough indication of a work's readability, with accuracy increasing when finding the average readability of a large number of works. The tests generate a score based on characteristics such as statistical average word length (which is used as an unreliable proxy for semantic
difficulty) and sentence length (as an unreliable proxy for syntactic
complexity) of the work.
Some readability formulas refer to a list of words graded for difficulty. These formulas attempt to overcome the fact that some words, like "television", are well known to younger children, but have many syllables. In practice, however, the utility of simple word and sentence length measures make them more popular for readability formulas. Scores are compared with scales based on judged linguistic difficulty or reading grade level. Many readability formulas measure word length in syllables rather than letters, but only SMOG
has a computerized readability program incorporating an accurate syllable counter.
Since readability formulas do not directly take syntactic or semantic complexity into account, they are not considered definitive measures of readability.
for determining the ability to read printed material.
Readability
Readability is the ease in which text can be read and understood. Various factors to measure readability have been used, such as "speed of perception," "perceptibility at a distance," "perceptibility in peripheral vision," "visibility," "the reflex blink technique," "rate of work" , "eye...
Readability tests, readability formulas, or readability metrics are formulae for evaluating the readability
Readability
Readability is the ease in which text can be read and understood. Various factors to measure readability have been used, such as "speed of perception," "perceptibility at a distance," "perceptibility in peripheral vision," "visibility," "the reflex blink technique," "rate of work" , "eye...
of text, usually by counting syllable
Syllable
A syllable is a unit of organization for a sequence of speech sounds. For example, the word water is composed of two syllables: wa and ter. A syllable is typically made up of a syllable nucleus with optional initial and final margins .Syllables are often considered the phonological "building...
s, word
Word
In language, a word is the smallest free form that may be uttered in isolation with semantic or pragmatic content . This contrasts with a morpheme, which is the smallest unit of meaning but will not necessarily stand on its own...
s, and sentence
Sentence (linguistics)
In the field of linguistics, a sentence is an expression in natural language, and often defined to indicate a grammatical unit consisting of one or more words that generally bear minimal syntactic relation to the words that precede or follow it...
s. Readability tests are often used as an alternative to conducting an actual statistical survey
Statistical survey
Survey methodology is the field that studies surveys, that is, the sample of individuals from a population with a view towards making statistical inferences about the population using the sample. Polls about public opinion, such as political beliefs, are reported in the news media in democracies....
of human readers of the subject text (a readability survey
Readability survey
A readability survey is a statistical survey of the ability of people to read given passages of text, written, formatted and/or laid-out in a variety of styles...
). Word processing applications often have readability tests built-in, which can be deployed on documents in-editing.
The application of a useful readability test protocol will give a rough indication of a work's readability, with accuracy increasing when finding the average readability of a large number of works. The tests generate a score based on characteristics such as statistical average word length (which is used as an unreliable proxy for semantic
Semantics
Semantics is the study of meaning. It focuses on the relation between signifiers, such as words, phrases, signs and symbols, and what they stand for, their denotata....
difficulty) and sentence length (as an unreliable proxy for syntactic
Syntax
In linguistics, syntax is the study of the principles and rules for constructing phrases and sentences in natural languages....
complexity) of the work.
Some readability formulas refer to a list of words graded for difficulty. These formulas attempt to overcome the fact that some words, like "television", are well known to younger children, but have many syllables. In practice, however, the utility of simple word and sentence length measures make them more popular for readability formulas. Scores are compared with scales based on judged linguistic difficulty or reading grade level. Many readability formulas measure word length in syllables rather than letters, but only SMOG
SMOG (Simple Measure Of Gobbledygook)
SMOG is a readability formula that estimates the years of education needed to understand a piece of writing. SMOG is widely used, particularly for checking health messages. The SMOG formula yields a 0.985 correlation with a standard error of 1.5159 grades with the grades of readers who had 100%...
has a computerized readability program incorporating an accurate syllable counter.
Since readability formulas do not directly take syntactic or semantic complexity into account, they are not considered definitive measures of readability.
Legibility
Legibility is closely related to readability. ASTM D7298, Standard Test Method for Measurement of Comparative Legibility by Means of Polarizing Filter Instrumentation, is one test methodTest method
A test method is a definitive procedure that produces a test result.A test can be considered as technical operation that consists of determination of one or more characteristics of a given product, process or service according to a specified procedure. Often a test is part of an experiment.The test...
for determining the ability to read printed material.
Readability tests
- Accelerated Reader ATOS
- Automated Readability IndexAutomated Readability IndexThe Automated Readability Index is a readability test designed to gauge the understandability of a text. Like the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, Gunning Fog Index, SMOG Index, Fry Readability Formula, and Coleman-Liau Index, it produces an approximate representation of the US grade level needed to...
(ARI) - Coleman-Liau IndexColeman-Liau IndexThe Coleman–Liau index is a readability test designed by Meri Coleman and T. L. Liau to gauge the understandability of a text. Like the Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level, Gunning fog index, SMOG index, and Automated Readability Index, its output approximates the U.S...
- Dale-Chall Readability Formula
- Flesch-Kincaid readability testFlesch-Kincaid Readability TestThe Flesch/Flesch–Kincaid readability tests are designed to indicate comprehension difficulty when reading a passage of contemporary academic English. There are two tests, the Flesch Reading Ease, and the Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level...
s:- Flesch Reading Ease
- Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level
- Fry Readability FormulaFry Readability FormulaThe Fry readability formula is a readability metric for English texts, developed by Edward Fry.The grade reading level is calculated by the average number of sentences and syllables per hundred words...
- Gunning-Fog Index
- LexileLexileThe Lexile Framework for Reading is an educational tool that uses a measure called a Lexile to match readers of all ages with books, articles and other leveled reading resources....
Framework for Reading - Linsear WriteLinsear WriteLinsear Write is a readability metric for English text, purportedly developed for the United States Air Force to help them calculate the readability of their technical manuals...
- LIXLIXLIX is a readability measure indicating the difficulty of reading a text developed by Swedish scholar Carl-Hugo Björnsson. It is computed as follows:LIX = A/B + /A, whereA = Number of words...
- Raygor Estimate Graph
- SMOG (Simple Measure Of Gobbledygook)SMOG (Simple Measure Of Gobbledygook)SMOG is a readability formula that estimates the years of education needed to understand a piece of writing. SMOG is widely used, particularly for checking health messages. The SMOG formula yields a 0.985 correlation with a standard error of 1.5159 grades with the grades of readers who had 100%...
- Spache Readability FormulaSpache Readability FormulaThe Spache Readability Formula is a readability test for writing in English, designed by George Spache. It works best on texts that are for children up to fourth grade...
External links
- Tool that assesses document readability using many of these methods
- BabilTurk Translator Tools -- Calculates Dale Chall Readability Index