How do the Web Governance readability methods determine my score?

Introduction

This article describes the two readability score methods that Web Governance offers and provides information on how they calculate readability scores.

Readability methods

The Web Governance administrator configures the readability method when they set up the scan. The two methods are:

• Flesch-Kincaid: Determines the readability score for English text.
• LIX: Determines the readability score for non-English languages.

Flesch Kincaid Readability Test (English Text)

The Flesch-Kincaid readability method measures word length, number of syllables per word, and sentence length for English text. The formula for the Flesch (FRES) test is:

206.835 - 1.015 (total words/total sentences) - 84.6 (total syllables/total words)

The resulting scores and their meaning:

For more information, visit Flesch Kincaid Readability.

Errors in Flesch-Kincaid

When Web Governance cannot generate a readability score for a page, the system displays the following error messages:

• Language not supported: Indicates that the system does not recognize the page language as English. The Flesch-Kincaid test evaluates only English text. Change the method to the LIX test to generate scores for non-English pages.
• Score could not be generated: Indicates that the system cannot generate an accurate score for the page. This error occurs because the text is too short or too long, or the web crawler does not detect text.

LIX Readability Test (Non-English Text)

The LIX readability method evaluates non-English text. The formula is:

LIX = A/B + (C x 100)/A

Where:

• A = Number of words

• B = Number of periods (defined by period, colon, or uppercase first letter)

• C = Number of long words (more than 6 letters)

For more information, visit LIX readability.

Clear language rules affect the overall readability scores. The following rules apply:

• Long Sentences: The system flags sentences that exceed 20 words. Aim for 5% or lower total content with long sentences. Complex statements and run-on sentences bury the message. Split long sentences or use lists.

• Average Sentence Length: Aim for 10 words per sentence or fewer to ensure optimal readability.

• Passive Language: Aim for 5% or lower total content in passive language. Active language is more direct and clear.

  • Active voice examples: Monkeys adore bananas. The cashier counted the money. The dog chased the squirrel.