Writing
Average sentence length
The first input to both readability formulas, and the one most writers can act on immediately.
The Formula
length = words / sentences
The first input to both readability formulas, and the one most writers can act on immediately.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| L | Average sentence length | words | Words per sentence. |
| n | Words | words | Total word count. |
| s | Sentences | sentences | Number of sentences. |
What Each Symbol Means
Lwords
Average sentence length
Words per sentence.
nwords
Words
Total word count.
ssentences
Sentences
Number of sentences.
See It Worked With Real Numbers
A formula on its own does not tell you which number goes where. The how to calculate flesch reading ease page applies this equation to a concrete case, shows every intermediate step, and names the mistakes that produce a wrong answer even when the algebra is right.
Where This Formula Appears
This equation is the working core of How To Calculate Flesch Reading Ease, filed under Education. Every number the guide produces comes from substituting into this one line.