Check your content's reading ease

SiteCurl calculates the Flesch reading ease score for the visible text content on every page in your scan. The score ranges from 0 to 100. Higher scores mean easier reading. A score of 60 to 70 is considered standard web content. Below 50 is flagged as difficult to read.

The formula considers average sentence length and average syllables per word. Shorter sentences and simpler words produce higher scores. Long sentences packed with multi-syllable words produce lower scores.

SiteCurl reports the score per page, so you can identify which pages need simplification and which are already at a good reading level.

Most web visitors do not read. They scan. Eye-tracking studies show that people read about 20% of the text on an average web page. When the text is hard to read, that percentage drops even further.

The Flesch reading ease score quantifies how accessible your writing is. It was developed in the 1940s for the U.S. Navy to evaluate technical manuals, and it remains one of the most widely used readability measures. A score of 60 to 70 corresponds roughly to an 8th to 9th grade reading level, which is the sweet spot for most web content.

The score penalizes two things: long sentences and complex words. A sentence with 30 words forces the reader to hold multiple ideas in memory at once. A word with four syllables takes more mental effort to process than a two-syllable alternative. Neither is wrong on its own, but when both stack up across a page, the content becomes a chore.

The goal is not to dumb down your content. It is to make it accessible to the widest possible audience. Clear writing takes more effort from the writer but less effort from the reader. That trade-off always favors the reader.

Content readability directly affects engagement. Pages with lower reading ease scores have higher bounce rates because visitors give up before reaching the key message. If your call to action is buried in a wall of complex text, fewer people will find it.

Search engines factor user engagement into rankings. A page that visitors leave quickly sends a signal that the content did not match the search intent. While Google does not use readability scores directly, the behavioral outcomes of hard-to-read content (high bounce rate, low time on page) can affect your search performance.

Readability also affects conversions. A pricing page or product description that requires a college reading level excludes a significant portion of potential buyers. Simpler text converts better.

SaaS companies with technical products often write copy that assumes too much knowledge. Feature pages filled with jargon and long explanations lose visitors who are still learning what the product does.

Professional services firms (law, finance, consulting) tend toward formal, complex writing. This is fine for industry peers but not for potential clients searching for answers to basic questions.

Content marketers who write long-form blog posts can drift toward complexity as they cover a topic in depth. Breaking long posts into shorter paragraphs and sentences keeps the reading ease score up.

Step 1: Shorten your sentences. Break sentences over 20 words into two. Read each sentence aloud. If you run out of breath, the sentence is too long.

Step 2: Replace complex words with simpler ones. Use 'use' instead of 'utilize.' Use 'help' instead of 'facilitate.' Use 'start' instead of 'commence.' The simpler word almost always communicates the same meaning.

Step 3: Break up long paragraphs. Web paragraphs should be 2 to 4 sentences. A wall of text is intimidating on a screen. White space between paragraphs makes the content feel more approachable.

Step 4: Use headings and bullet points. Break your content into sections with clear headings. Use bullet points for lists instead of embedding them in paragraph text. These formatting choices help scanners find the information they need.

Step 5: Read it as if you know nothing about the topic. If a sentence requires background knowledge to understand, add a brief explanation or link to a resource. Do not assume the reader shares your expertise.

Oversimplifying technical content. The goal is not to write at a 5th grade level for every audience. If your readers are engineers, a higher complexity level is fine. Match the reading level to your target audience, not to an arbitrary number.

Focusing on score instead of clarity. A high readability score does not guarantee good writing. Short, choppy sentences can score well but feel robotic. Aim for natural, clear writing that flows well when read aloud.

Ignoring the most important pages. Start with pages that drive conversions: your home page, pricing page, and product pages. Blog posts matter, but the pages that generate revenue should be readable first.

After rewriting, run another SiteCurl scan. Your reading ease score should increase. Aim for 60 or above for general audiences. For technical audiences, 50 or above is acceptable.

Read the revised content aloud. If it sounds natural and you do not stumble, the readability is likely good regardless of the exact score.

Readability is about respecting your reader's time. Simpler writing is not weaker writing. It is clearer writing. Shorten sentences, choose common words, and break up long paragraphs. Your visitors will read more, stay longer, and convert at higher rates.