Writing
Flesch Reading Ease
The score runs from about 0 to 100, where higher means easier. The syllable term carries roughly eighty three times the weight of the sentence term.
The Formula
ease = 206.835 - 1.015 (words/sentences) - 84.6 (syllables/words)
The score runs from about 0 to 100, where higher means easier. The syllable term carries roughly eighty three times the weight of the sentence term.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| E | Reading ease | score | The Flesch Reading Ease score, higher being easier. |
| n | Words | words | Total word count. |
| s | Sentences | sentences | Number of sentences. |
| y | Syllables | syllables | Total syllable count across all words. |
What Each Symbol Means
Escore
Reading ease
The Flesch Reading Ease score, higher being easier.
nwords
Words
Total word count.
ssentences
Sentences
Number of sentences.
ysyllables
Syllables
Total syllable count across all words.
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.