You have written a piece of content. You run it through a readability checker. You get a score—let us say it is 45. What does that number mean? Is 45 good? Bad? Does it matter?
The answer depends entirely on who you are writing for. A Flesch Reading Ease score of 45 might be perfect for a legal document and terrible for a blog post. The number alone tells you nothing until you interpret it in context. This article will help you understand what different readability scores communicate about your audience and how to adjust your writing accordingly.
Readability Score Interpretation Table
| Flesch Score | Reading Level | Audience Description | Content Examples | Education Level Needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90–100 | Very Easy | Young children, early readers | Dr. Seuss books, simple instructions | 4th grade |
| 80–89 | Easy | General consumers | Comics, popular magazines | 6th grade |
| 70–79 | Fairly Easy | Mass market | Consumer product manuals, marketing copy | 8th grade |
| 60–69 | Standard | General adult | News articles, blog posts, business memos | 10th–12th grade |
| 50–59 | Fairly Difficult | College-educated | Quality newspapers, technical articles | College |
| 30–49 | Difficult | Specialists | Academic journals, industry reports | Graduate school |
| 0–29 | Very Confusing | Experts only | Legal contracts, scientific papers | Post-graduate |
Real-World Examples by Score Range
Score 25 — Legal Document
The Lessee shall indemnify and hold harmless the Lessor from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses arising out of or resulting from the use, misuse, or occupancy of the premises by the Lessee or any of the Lessee’s agents, employees, contractors, or invitees.
This single sentence runs 45 words and uses vocabulary like “indemnify,” “harmless,” and “liabilities.” The Flesch score is approximately 25. This is appropriate for a legal audience trained to read this kind of language. It would be terrible as a blog post.
Score 65 — Blog Post
Editing your own writing is hard. You know what you meant to say, so your brain fills in the gaps as you read. That is why it helps to step away from your draft for a few hours before you start editing. A fresh pair of eyes sees the mistakes you missed.
Short sentences. Familiar words. Average sentence length of about 14 words. This scores around 65. It works well for a general audience reading on the web.
Score 90 — Children’s Content
The cat sat on the mat. The dog ran up the hill. The bird sang a song. The fish swam in the pond.
Very short sentences. One or two syllables per word. Scores around 90. This level is appropriate for early readers but would feel patronising to an adult audience.
How to Match Your Score to Your Audience
If You Are Writing for the General Public
Aim for a Flesch score of 60–70. This is the “standard” range that matches the reading ability of the average adult. Most popular news sites target this range. You can use slightly longer sentences and more varied vocabulary, but keep your average sentence length under 20 words.
If You Are Writing for Professionals
A score of 50–60 is appropriate for industry publications, business reports, and professional newsletters. Your audience has domain knowledge and expects some specialised vocabulary. But be careful: even professionals prefer clear writing. Do not inflate your score by adding unnecessary complexity.
If You Are Writing for Experts
Scores between 30 and 50 are acceptable for academic journals, legal documents, and technical specifications. Your audience expects precise terminology and complex sentence structures. However, even in this range, you should aim for clarity. The best technical writers achieve precision without sacrificing readability.
If You Are Writing Marketing Copy
Aim for 70–80. Marketing copy should be easy to absorb quickly. Short sentences, active voice, and familiar words all help. Your goal is to make your message so easy to understand that the reader acts on it without hesitation.
Common Readability Mistakes
- Writing above your audience’s level. The most common mistake. Writers try to sound smart by using long words and complex sentences. The result is that readers bounce.
- Writing below your audience’s level. Less common, but it happens. Oversimplification can feel patronising. If your audience is professionals, a score of 85 may make you sound like you are talking down to them.
- Ignoring readability entirely. Most writers never check their readability score. They assume that if it makes sense to them, it makes sense to everyone. This is almost never true.
- Chasing a number instead of communicating. Readability tools are guides, not gospel. Do not sacrifice meaning just to hit a specific score. Use the score as a diagnostic, not a target.
How to Adjust Your Readability Score
If your score is too low (too difficult), try these adjustments:
- Shorten your sentences. Aim for an average of 15–18 words.
- Replace multi-syllable words with shorter alternatives. Use “use” instead of “utilise.”
- Break complex ideas into multiple sentences.
- Cut unnecessary modifiers and qualifiers.
If your score is too high (too easy), try these adjustments:
- Vary your sentence length. A string of very short sentences can feel choppy.
- Use some domain-specific vocabulary if appropriate for your audience.
- Add subordinate clauses to show relationships between ideas.
- Use transitional phrases to improve flow.
The Takeaway
Your readability score is not a judgement of your writing quality. It is a data point about how well your writing matches your audience. The best writers do not write at one level for everything. They adjust their readability based on who they are writing for and what they want to achieve. Use the CopyRefine Readability tool to check your scores and adjust accordingly. Your audience will thank you for it.