EssayClerkReadability checker
Check English text with Flesch Reading Ease and Flesch–Kincaid grade-level estimates. Review long sentences without uploading your draft.
Your English draft
Readability estimates
Add English text and analyze to see estimates.
How the estimates work
Reading Ease = 206.835 − 1.015 × words per sentence − 84.6 × syllables per word. Grade Level = 0.39 × words per sentence + 11.8 × syllables per word − 15.59. The formulas are described in this readability study.
Our English syllable heuristic v1 counts vowel groups, adjusts some silent “e” and “ed” endings, and uses a small exception list. Names, dialects, numerals, and uncommon words can be miscounted. Hyphenated words are analyzed by part. We reuse the word counter’s counting and sentence policy; sentence boundaries are also estimates.
A worked example
“The cat sat on the mat. The dog ran to the park.” has 12 words, two sentences, and 12 estimated syllables. Reading Ease is approximately 116.15 and Grade Level is −1.45. Values are not clamped; a short, simple sample can fall outside customary ranges.
Long-sentence excerpts retain the text of each estimated sentence. They are review prompts, not automatic corrections. Downloads contain metrics, not your draft.
Flesch Reading Ease and Flesch–Kincaid grade level
Analyze a representative section of English prose, then inspect the long-sentence excerpts alongside the scores. Ask whether each sentence has a clear main point, whether a technical term needs explanation, and whether your reader can follow the connection to the previous paragraph.
A lower estimated grade level does not make an argument better. Academic writing sometimes needs specialized vocabulary. Keep necessary terms and evidence; simplify avoidable wording, define unfamiliar concepts and split a sentence only when that improves its meaning.
Compare a passage before and after revision using the same settings. Treat short samples cautiously: one unusual word or a different estimated sentence boundary can change the result substantially. This tool estimates syllables and sentence boundaries; it does not assess grammar, factual accuracy or the strength of your argument.
Common questions
What is the difference between Reading Ease and grade level?
Flesch Reading Ease usually rises as sentences and words become shorter. Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level expresses surface complexity on an approximate US school-grade scale. Neither score measures a reader’s ability, the quality of an argument or whether an essay deserves a particular grade.
Is this a grammar checker or plagiarism checker?
No. This readability test estimates English sentence length, syllables, Reading Ease and grade level. It highlights long sentences for your review but does not check plagiarism, identify AI text or automatically rewrite your draft.
What readability score should an essay have?
There is no single target for every assignment. Consider the intended reader, discipline and task. Use the scores as prompts for reviewing complexity rather than as a grading standard.
Does this work for languages other than English?
The formulas and syllable heuristic here are designed for English. Language is not detected automatically, and non-English results may be misleading even when the text uses Latin letters.
Will it rewrite difficult sentences?
No. It identifies estimated long sentences for you to review. You decide how to revise the wording while preserving the original meaning.