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1. #Show readability statistics in word 2011 for mac how to#
2. #Show readability statistics in word 2011 for mac full#

In Word 2003 and earlier, go to the Tools menu and choose Options or Readability stats don’t exist in iWork at the moment.)įirst, you have to set Word to show the readability stats (this is a one-time thing).

#Show readability statistics in word 2011 for mac how to#

Here’s how to get these little gems of wisdom in Microsoft Word (sorry, Mac users, Apple doesn’t consider this a priority. Despite the complexity of his concepts, Albert Einstein’s papers still clocked in at about a Grade 8 reading level. And yes, that includes non-fiction writers. Kinda like those last two words.)Ĭonventional wisdom states that for most writing, you should aim for minimum readability of 60 to 70, at a Grade 7 to 8 level.

#Show readability statistics in word 2011 for mac full#

(Disclaimer here: As a technical writer, I usually write as simply as possible, but this one was full of polysyllabic legalese. Trust me, you don’t want to have to wade through this puppy. Just for contrast, here’s the score for a technical piece that one of my clients requested, describing the ramifications of the Privacy Act here in Alberta. “ Freedom, Too”, the companion piece told from Beth’s point of view, comes in at Grade 4.6.Īnother day, another 1000 words.

It’s told from Dave the trucker’s point of view, and you’ll notice that sentences are short, readability is a whopping 93.5, and it’s written at a Grade 1.7 level. The readability score at the right is for my flash fiction piece “ Freedom” (about 1000 words). Grade Level is based on average reading levels in the U. The higher the score, the easier the document is to read. Reading Ease is based on a 100-point scale. All the “how-to” books warn against passive voice, and this is a handy-dandy way to see at a glance if you’re overdoing it. The frequency of passive sentences is an interesting stat for fiction writers. The Averages are used in the formulas that calculate the three things that concern me most as a writer: reading ease, grade level, and passive sentences. I’m assuming you know how to find your word count if not, drop me a comment and I’ll do a post on it. The Counts are self-explanatory (and you can find them more easily than by using this method). It doesn’t tell you anything about whether your writing is “good” or “bad”, but it can give you a hint if you’re making your readers work too hard. Microsoft Word calculates readability statistics based on the length and complexity of the sentences and words you use in your document.

Get Readability Statistics For Your Document Since I make my living as a geek, I’ll occasionally share techie tricks that I use to make my life easier as a writer.ĭrop me a comment if there’s something specific you’re wondering about.