Readability is easy to measure and these statistics are useful to identify writing problems. The Fog Index is a common readability yardstick. It is computed as follows, using a sample of at least 100 words, where all are complete sentences.
total words/total sentences = ______
hard words*/total words x 100 = ______ Total ______
x 0.4 Fog Index ______
* hard words = words of 3 or more syllables, except capitalized words, combinations of short words, or words made up of 3 syllables by -es and -ed endings Fog Index Statistics 13 or higher = above normal reader tolerance
11-12 = safe reading range
10 and below = easy reading range
A fog index of 13 or greater verifies that you have a writing problem. Buy Write Smarter, Not Harder to learn how to write concisely and persuasively. |
Write Smarter, Not Harder, shows exactly how to reduce fog levels and convince readers.
Chapter 1 "Readability Measurement"
Intro to readability, p 3
Compute Fog Index ,p. 5
Why high “fog” causes problems, p. 6 -9
Chapter 2 "Our Verbose Models"
Contents
Preface Back Cover |
