Readability AnalyzerWhat plain language means in practice
A contract or notice that fails a plain-language standard isn’t just bad writing — in many jurisdictions, it’s a compliance finding waiting to happen. Plain language guidance exists because regulators have learned that “we told them” and “they understood” are not the same thing.
For legal, government, and compliance writing, plain language guidance typically aims for the same goal: make text understandable by a broad audience without removing essential meaning. That does not mean “dumb it down” — it means choosing clarity, transparency, and direct structure.
Why the grade 6–8 target matters
The federal Plain Writing Act and many public-sector communication standards use a grade 6–8 target because it is a practical range for the average adult reader. Readers in real-world settings do not have the attention or patience to parse layered legal prose. The homepage tool applies that audience target as a helpful benchmark.
Why SMOG is especially important
SMOG is the formula most often used for compliance and health communication because it is calibrated around polysyllabic language, which better reflects real reading difficulty for longer documents. A text can pass Flesch-Kincaid while still scoring too high on SMOG — SMOG tends to score 1–2 grade levels higher than Flesch-Kincaid for the same passage, so if you are checking against a SMOG-based standard, treat the Flesch-Kincaid number as a floor, not a ceiling.
A worked example
Before: “In the event that the beneficiary elects to execute the aforementioned option, the company shall provide written notice within a reasonable period of time.”
After: “If the beneficiary chooses this option, the company will send written notice within a reasonable time.”
The second sentence is clearer while preserving the legal meaning. This is the type of rewrite the plain-language target on the homepage is designed to encourage.
How to use the tool
Paste legal language, policy text, or compliance notices into the homepage tool, then select Legal / Government. The analyzer will compare your text against the grade 6–8 target and show whether it meets the expected range or whether a rewrite is advisable.
Practical guidance
- Use active voice when possible.
- Break complex rules into shorter sentences.
- Avoid nominalizations like “commencement” or “determination” when a verb is clearer.
- Define technical terms the first time they appear.
The underlying principle — matching language to audience capability — is shared with healthcare writing. See Writing for Patients for how those same ideas apply in a clinical context. For more on how the formulas differ, visit Formulas Explained.