{"id":22334,"date":"2019-12-09T05:47:24","date_gmt":"2019-12-09T09:47:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/?p=22334"},"modified":"2021-11-07T08:12:29","modified_gmt":"2021-11-07T12:12:29","slug":"readability-level","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/","title":{"rendered":"What readability level makes sense for your audience?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Even rocket scientists and brain surgeons don\u2019t want it to be harder<\/h2>\n<p>It never fails.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_22336\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22336\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"22336\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/readability-level-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/readability-level.png\" data-orig-size=\"600,300\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"readability-level\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Who\u2019s in your audience?&lt;\/strong&gt; Whether you\u2019re writing to rocket scientists, brain surgeons or top executives, this research will help you figure out what readability level to target. &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/engineers-scientists-man-woman-sharing-thoughts-1302136045&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Image by StunningArt&lt;\/em&gt;&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/readability-level-300x150.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/readability-level.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/readability-level.png\" alt=\"Readability level\" title=\"Readability level\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22336 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/readability-level.png 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/readability-level-300x150.png 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 600\/300;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"22336\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/readability-level-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/readability-level.png\" data-orig-size=\"600,300\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"readability-level\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Who\u2019s in your audience?&lt;\/strong&gt; Whether you\u2019re writing to rocket scientists, brain surgeons or top executives, this research will help you figure out what readability level to target. &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/engineers-scientists-man-woman-sharing-thoughts-1302136045&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Image by StunningArt&lt;\/em&gt;&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/readability-level-300x150.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/readability-level.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/readability-level.png\" alt=\"Readability level\" title=\"Readability level\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22336\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/readability-level.png 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/readability-level-300x150.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22336\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Who\u2019s in your audience?<\/strong> Whether you\u2019re writing to rocket scientists, brain surgeons or top executives, this research will help you figure out what readability level to target. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/engineers-scientists-man-woman-sharing-thoughts-1302136045\"><em>Image by StunningArt<\/em><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>When I talk in my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/corporate-communications-training\/training-corporate-communications\/\">writing workshops<\/a> about the importance of making copy easy to read and understand, there\u2019s always one person who can\u2019t believe the advice applies to her.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Are you kidding?&#8221; she gasps. &#8220;I\u2019m writing to executives\/pharmacists\/school district superintendents\/telecomm engineers\/financial planners\/horse breeders. These folks are superbly educated, brilliant and divine. There\u2019s no way they\u2019ll read anything that easy.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>So you think your audience wants it to be harder? Think again.<\/p>\n<h3>1. Start with average.<\/h3>\n<p>The average U.S. adult reading level is 8th grade, research shows.<\/p>\n<p>Is your audience average? Yes: Target 7th- or 8th-grade reading level.<\/p>\n<p>Not so average?<\/p>\n<h3>2. Then consider going lower.<\/h3>\n<p>Some people are less literate than others. These demographics and preferences may affect your audience\u2019s literacy levels, according to the world\u2019s a huge global literacy test, the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Education<\/strong>. Education is the most reliable predictor of literacy, according to OECD. On average, literacy scores increase by 10 points for each year a person remains in school. The lower your readers\u2019 level of education, the easier your copy should be to read.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"22340\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/clip1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip1.png\" data-orig-size=\"600,337\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"clip1\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip1-300x169.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip1.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"337\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-22340 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip1-300x169.png 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 600\/337;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"22340\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/clip1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip1.png\" data-orig-size=\"600,337\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"clip1\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip1-300x169.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip1.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"337\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-22340\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip1-300x169.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p><strong>Age<\/strong>. One-third of Americans age 65 or older fall into the lowest level of prose literacy. According to the PIAAC, reading and numbers skills:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Increased from the teenage years<\/strong> through the mid 40s<\/li>\n<li><strong>Plunged some 25 points<\/strong> between the 40 to 54 age group and the 55 to 64 age group<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dropped 30 more points<\/strong> between the 55 to 64 age group and the oldest adults<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In most countries, older people have lower literacy skills. That\u2019s partly because seniors, on average, spent fewer years in school than young people.<\/p>\n<p>Writing for readers 65 and older? Make your copy easier to read.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Industry<\/strong>. People with poor reading proficiency tend to have more health problems, for instance.\u00a0 So if you\u2019re writing to health care consumers, consider aiming lower.<\/p>\n<p>How low? The best reading level for health information is 5<sup>th<\/sup> grade, say researchers Michael D. Aldridge and Kenneth Brownson.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Place of birth<\/strong>. One-quarter of American immigrants have Level 1 \u2014 nonliterate \u2014 reading skills, according to the 1993. (And you should hear me try to say \u201cGood morning\u201d in Finnish.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Economic level<\/strong>. More than four in 10 people with the lowest literacy rates on all three scales were impoverished.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Occupation<\/strong>. In general, the higher the literacy skills, the higher the job ranking, according to the 2003 PIAAC. Managers and professionals, for instance, tend to have higher literacy skills than technicians, craft workers or machine operators. And people with high literacy skills are less likely to be blue-collar workers than those with low skills.<\/p>\n<p>Folks with Level 1 literacy on all three scales were far more likely to hold service jobs than people with Level 5 \u2014 college level \u2014\u00a0literacy, according to the 1993 PIAAC. The same thing is true of laborers, assemblers, fishermen or farmers.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Types of devices<\/strong>. Also, reduce the grade level when you\u2019re writing for mobile devices. <a href=\"https:\/\/revvingupreadership.com\/2020\/10\/mobile-content-cuts-comprehension-in-half\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mobile screens cut understanding in half<\/a>, according to new research by R.I. Singh and colleagues from the University of Alberta.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Consider going higher.<\/h3>\n<p>But your audience members are rocket scientists or brain surgeons, right? They\u2019ve had years of education.<\/p>\n<p>Not surprisingly, people who had the highest literacy levels on all three scales were much more likely to hold managerial, professional or technical jobs than were respondents with the lowest literacy levels, according to NAAL. However, a few people with Level 1 and Level 2 literacy also held managerial, professional or technical positions.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"22341\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/clip2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip2.png\" data-orig-size=\"600,337\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"clip2\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip2-300x169.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip2.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"337\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-22341 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip2-300x169.png 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 600\/337;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"22341\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/clip2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip2.png\" data-orig-size=\"600,337\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"clip2\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip2-300x169.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip2.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"337\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-22341\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip2-300x169.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>In general, the higher the literacy skills, the higher the job ranking. Managers and professionals, for instance, tend to have higher literacy skills than technicians, craft workers or machine operators. And people with high literacy skills are less likely to be blue-collar workers than those with low skills.<\/p>\n<p>While most managers and professionals have medium to high literacy skills \u2014 in the Netherlands, for example, 80% of managers and professionals have Level 3 literacy or above \u2014 not all do. In the Netherlands, 20% of managers and professionals have low levels of literacy. And in Chile, 60% or more managers and professionals have low literacy skills.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Consider going lower.<\/h3>\n<p>Some executives and entrepreneurs have attention deficit disorder (ADD).<\/p>\n<p>Some people, apparently, turn their super-fast ADD brains into a professional asset.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Hyperactivity can be transformed into hyperproductivity,&#8221; writes Julie Deardorff, a reporter at The Monterey County Herald. She quotes one executive who says that if he didn\u2019t already have ADD, he\u2019d find a way to get it.<\/p>\n<p>Winston Churchill is believed to have had ADD. So, reportedly, do David Neeleman, founder of JetBlue Airways; Paul Orfalea, founder of Kinko\u2019s; and Charles Schwab, founder and chairman of Charles Schwab &amp; Co.<\/p>\n<h5>\u201cI could manage \u2014 with effort \u2014 the little chunks of text you see in a memo or a newspaper. But a long book or a speech was almost impenetrable.\u201d<\/h5>\n<h6>\u2014 Charles Schwab, founder and chairman of the Charles Schwab Corporation<\/h6>\n<p>Schwab is also dyslexic.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Some of the most accomplished CEOs have risen to the business world\u2019s highest ranks despite having difficulty doing something as basic as reading a memo,&#8221; writes Mark C. Thompson in <em>Chief Executive<\/em> magazine.<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s it like to be a dyslexic executive? According to <em>Chief Executive<\/em>:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I could manage \u2014 with effort \u2014 the little chunks of text you see in a memo or a newspaper,&#8221; Schwab says. &#8220;But a long book or a speech was almost impenetrable.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s make sure &#8220;almost impenetrable&#8221; doesn\u2019t apply to our executive communications.<\/p>\n<h3>5. Consider going lower.<\/h3>\n<p>Of course, your CEO doesn\u2019t have to be dyslexic for the rules of clear, concise copy to make sense. Information overload can be disabling, too. And busy executives tend to suffer from it most.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"22342\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/clip3\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip3.png\" data-orig-size=\"600,337\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"clip3\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip3-300x169.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip3.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"337\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-22342 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip3.png 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip3-300x169.png 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 600\/337;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"22342\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/clip3\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip3.png\" data-orig-size=\"600,337\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"clip3\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip3-300x169.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip3.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"337\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-22342\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip3.png 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/clip3-300x169.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve always argued that if you think your audience members are especially elevated or educated, then you should make your copy more accessible.<\/p>\n<p>Highly educated executives, after all, tend to have more stuff to read and less time to read it. So you\u2019re obligated to make your messages for those folks even easier to process.<\/p>\n<h3>6. Consider going lower.<\/h3>\n<p>But even if you\u2019re writing to brain surgeons and rocket scientists, keep your grade level average low. That\u2019s because:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>People don\u2019t read at their grade level<\/strong>. On average, high school graduates read at the 9<sup>th<\/sup>-grade level, according to William H. Dubay, readability consultant at Plain Language Services. College graduates at the 12<sup>th<\/sup>-grade level.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Over time, reading skills decline<\/strong>. On average, Dubay says, adults read at five grade levels lower than the last grade they completed.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Everyone benefits from readability<\/strong>. Highly literate people read a message 64% faster, understood it 13% better and enjoyed reading it 30% more when it was easier to read, <a href=\"https:\/\/revvingupreadership.com\/2017\/08\/readability-helps-everyone\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">according to a study by the Nielsen Norman Group<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>People don\u2019t want to read at their grade level<\/strong>. That\u2019s why <a href=\"https:\/\/revvingupreadership.com\/2017\/08\/wwjd\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>The Wall Street Journal<\/em><\/a> is written at the 11<sup>th<\/sup>-grade level. (The front page weighs in at 9<sup>th<\/sup>-grade.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cPeople prefer to read and get information at a level below their capacity,\u201d says Douglas Mueller, president of the Gunning-Mueller Clear Writing Institute. \u201cEven a Harvard University professor prefers to get information without strain.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nobody wants it to be harder. No matter your audience, make your message easier to read.<\/p>\n<div id='MC-CTC-READ' class='widgets_on_page wop_tiny1  wop_small1  wop_medium1  wop_large1  wop_wide1'>\n\t\t\t<ul><li id=\"custom_html-10\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html\"><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><h3>How can you reach <em>all<\/em> of your readers?<\/h3>\r\n<p>Read it and weep. More than half of all Americans have basic or below-basic reading skills, according to the DOE\u2019s latest adult literacy test.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>How well are you doing reaching these folks with your messages? <a title=\"Rev Up Readability \u2014 our clear-writing workshop\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/corporate-communications-training\/writing-classes\/corporate-communication-training\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/clear-writing-training.png\" alt=\"Rev Up Readability \u2014 our clear-writing workshop\" title=\"Rev Up Readability \u2014 our clear-writing workshop\" width=\"auto\" height=\"auto\" border=\"0\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 250px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 250\/250;float:left; text-align:left; margin: 0 auto; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-size: 18x; line-height: 22px; padding: 0px; color: #FFFFFF; max-width:100%; max-height:100%;\" class=\"img-max lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/clear-writing-training.png\" alt=\"Rev Up Readability \u2014 our clear-writing workshop\" title=\"Rev Up Readability \u2014 our clear-writing workshop\" width=\"auto\" height=\"auto\" border=\"0\" style=\"float:left; text-align:left; margin: 0 auto; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-size: 18x; line-height: 22px; padding: 0px; color: #FFFFFF; max-width:100%; max-height:100%;\" class=\"img-max\"><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\r\n\t\r\n<p>To reach all of your readers \u2014 regardless of their reading level \u2014 please join me at <a title=\"Rev Up Readability \u2014 our clear-writing workshop\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/corporate-communications-training\/writing-classes\/corporate-communication-training\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Rev Up Readability<\/strong><\/a>, \u2014 our clear-writing workshop.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>You\u2019ll learn to make every piece you write easier to read and understand. You\u2019ll walk away with secrets you can use to reach more readers, measurably improve readability and sell concise writing to management. And you\u2019ll learn to write messages that get more people to read your piece, read more of it, read it faster, understand it better and remember it longer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"btn btn--depth\" style=\"text-align: center;  margin: 10px 0 20px; width:100%;\"><a id=\"btnTT\" style=\"\" title=\"BOOK NOW\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/corporate-communications-training\/writing-classes\/corporate-communication-training\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-width=\"91\">BOOK NOW<\/a>\r\n<!-- [if mso]>\r\n<p style=\"line-height:0;margin:0;\"><v:roundrect xmlns:v=\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/corporate-communications-training\/writing-classes\/corporate-communication-training\/\" style=\"width:153px\" arcsize=\"8%\" strokecolor=\"#D96237\" filled=\"t\"><v:fill type=\"gradient\" angle=\"180\" color=\"#f16522\" color2=\"#f16522\"><\/v:fill><v:textbox style=\"mso-fit-shape-to-text:t\" inset=\"0px,11px,0px,11px\"><center style=\"font-size:16px;line-height:24px;color:#FFFFFF;font-family:sans-serif;font-weight:bold;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;mso-text-raise:4px\">BOOK NOW<\/center><\/v:textbox><\/v:roundrect><\/p>\r\n<![endif]--><\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><!-- widgets_on_page -->\n<p>___<\/p>\n<p>Sources: Michael D. Aldridge, \u201cWriting and Designing Readable Patient Education Materials,\u201d Nephrology Nursing Journal, vol. 31, no. 4, July\/August 2004, p. 373-377<\/p>\n<p>Kenneth Brownson, \u201cLiteracy: A Problem that Managers Must Handle,\u201d Hospital Materiel Management Quarterly, vol. 20, no. 1, August 1998, p. 37-47<\/p>\n<p>William H. Dubay, \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/www.impact-information.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Basics of Plain Language<\/a>,\u201d Impact Information: Plain Language Services, 2005<\/p>\n<p>John Taylor Gatto, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20120723202519\/http:\/johntaylorgatto.com\/chapters\/3j.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The National Adult Literacy Survey<\/a>,\u201d The Odysseus Group<\/p>\n<p>Douglas Mueller, \u201cThe Fog Index,\u201d Folio:<\/p>\n<p>Robert Longley, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.usnews.com\/news\/blogs\/data-mine\/2015\/02\/12\/us-high-school-graduation-rate-hits-all-time-high\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">U.S. High School Graduation Rate Hits All-time High<\/a>,\u201d About.com, July 5, 2004<\/p>\n<p>TJ Larkin &amp; Sandar Larkin, \u201cMost Adults Can\u2019t Understand Our Health Communication,\u201d Larkin Page,No. 54, January 2007<\/p>\n<p>TJ Larkin &amp; Sandar Larkin, \u201cPatients Don\u2019t Remember Doctors\u2019 Instructions,\u201d Larkin Page, No. 78, January 2008<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/eric.ed.gov\/?id=ED416407\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The State of Literacy in America: Estimates at the Local, State and National Levels<\/a>\u201d (PDF), National Institute for Literacy, 1998<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fhwa.dot.gov\/planning\/publications\/low_limited\/lowlim04.cfm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">What do low literacy and limited English proficiency mean?<\/a>\u201d U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, FHWA.dot.gov<\/p>\n<p>Learn more:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>&#8220;Creative learning: How dyslexic CEOs have turned a weakness into a leadership strength&#8221; by Mark C. Thompson, <em>Chief Executive<\/em>, April 1, 2004<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;A few ADD sufferers see disorder as a gift&#8221; by Julie Deardorff, <em>The Monterey County Herald<\/em>, Nov. 26, 2005<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/exec\/obidos\/ASIN\/034544230X\/wwwwyliecomco-20\/103-5751593-8251061?creative=0&amp;camp=0&amp;adid=0C5BTEEF1B0Z2R9VRK5X&amp;link_code=as1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Delivered From Distraction<\/a> by Edward Hallowell and John Ratey<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/exec\/obidos\/ASIN\/1572243899\/wwwwyliecomco-20\/103-5751593-8251061?creative=0&amp;camp=0&amp;adid=1FGGJYWWG3JCXQGNAH42&amp;link_code=as1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Gift of ADHD<\/a> by Lara Honos-Webb<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Even rocket scientists and brain surgeons don\u2019t want it to be harder<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":22336,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[274],"tags":[501,96],"class_list":{"0":"post-22334","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-readability","8":"tag-piaac","9":"tag-readability","10":"entry"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v23.4 (Yoast SEO v23.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Readability level<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Whether you\u2019re writing to rocket scientists, brain surgeons or top executives, this research will help you figure out what readability level to target.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Readability level\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Whether you\u2019re writing to rocket scientists, brain surgeons or top executives, this research will help you figure out what readability level to target.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Wylie Communications, Inc.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/WylieCommunications\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ann.wylie.33\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-12-09T09:47:24+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-11-07T12:12:29+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/readability-level.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"300\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Ann Wylie\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Readability level\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Whether you\u2019re writing to rocket scientists, brain surgeons or top executives, this research will help you figure out what readability level to target.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/readability-level.png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@AnnWylie\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@AnnWylie\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Ann Wylie\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Ann Wylie\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#\/schema\/person\/85f5e705a38c31f4a0c59c982a66ce5e\"},\"headline\":\"What readability level makes sense for your audience?\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-12-09T09:47:24+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-11-07T12:12:29+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/\"},\"wordCount\":1469,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/readability-level.png\",\"keywords\":[\"PIAAC\",\"Readability\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Readability\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/\",\"name\":\"Readability level\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/readability-level.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-12-09T09:47:24+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-11-07T12:12:29+00:00\",\"description\":\"Whether you\u2019re writing to rocket scientists, brain surgeons or top executives, this research will help you figure out what readability level to target.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/readability-level.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/readability-level.png\",\"width\":600,\"height\":300,\"caption\":\"Who\u2019s in your audience? Whether you\u2019re writing to rocket scientists, brain surgeons or top executives, this research will help you figure out what readability level to target. Image by StunningArt\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Writing and editing\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/category\/writing-and-editing\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Concise Writing\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/category\/writing-and-editing\/concise-writing-tips\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"Readability\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/category\/writing-and-editing\/concise-writing-tips\/readability\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":5,\"name\":\"What readability level makes sense for your audience?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/\",\"name\":\"Wylie Communications, Inc.\",\"description\":\"Writing workshops, communication consulting and writing services\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Wylie Communications Inc.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/wylie_new_logo-300.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/wylie_new_logo-300.png\",\"width\":300,\"height\":300,\"caption\":\"Wylie Communications Inc.\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/WylieCommunications\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/AnnWylie\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/wyliecomm\/\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/wylie-communications-inc-\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/wyliecomminc\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#\/schema\/person\/85f5e705a38c31f4a0c59c982a66ce5e\",\"name\":\"Ann Wylie\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/160508f95c61ef464936ccf823a20963?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/160508f95c61ef464936ccf823a20963?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Ann Wylie\"},\"description\":\"Ann Wylie runs a company called Wylie Communications Inc. She works with communicators who want to reach more readers and with organizations that want to get the word out.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ann.wylie.33\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/AnnWylie\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Readability level","description":"Whether you\u2019re writing to rocket scientists, brain surgeons or top executives, this research will help you figure out what readability level to target.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Readability level","og_description":"Whether you\u2019re writing to rocket scientists, brain surgeons or top executives, this research will help you figure out what readability level to target.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/","og_site_name":"Wylie Communications, Inc.","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/WylieCommunications","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ann.wylie.33","article_published_time":"2019-12-09T09:47:24+00:00","article_modified_time":"2021-11-07T12:12:29+00:00","og_image":[{"width":600,"height":300,"url":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/readability-level.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Ann Wylie","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"Readability level","twitter_description":"Whether you\u2019re writing to rocket scientists, brain surgeons or top executives, this research will help you figure out what readability level to target.","twitter_image":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/readability-level.png","twitter_creator":"@AnnWylie","twitter_site":"@AnnWylie","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Ann Wylie","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/"},"author":{"name":"Ann Wylie","@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#\/schema\/person\/85f5e705a38c31f4a0c59c982a66ce5e"},"headline":"What readability level makes sense for your audience?","datePublished":"2019-12-09T09:47:24+00:00","dateModified":"2021-11-07T12:12:29+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/"},"wordCount":1469,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/readability-level.png","keywords":["PIAAC","Readability"],"articleSection":["Readability"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/","url":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/","name":"Readability level","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/readability-level.png","datePublished":"2019-12-09T09:47:24+00:00","dateModified":"2021-11-07T12:12:29+00:00","description":"Whether you\u2019re writing to rocket scientists, brain surgeons or top executives, this research will help you figure out what readability level to target.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/readability-level.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/readability-level.png","width":600,"height":300,"caption":"Who\u2019s in your audience? Whether you\u2019re writing to rocket scientists, brain surgeons or top executives, this research will help you figure out what readability level to target. Image by StunningArt"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2019\/12\/readability-level\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Writing and editing","item":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/category\/writing-and-editing\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Concise Writing","item":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/category\/writing-and-editing\/concise-writing-tips\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Readability","item":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/category\/writing-and-editing\/concise-writing-tips\/readability\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":5,"name":"What readability level makes sense for your audience?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/","name":"Wylie Communications, Inc.","description":"Writing workshops, communication consulting and writing services","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#organization","name":"Wylie Communications Inc.","url":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/wylie_new_logo-300.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/wylie_new_logo-300.png","width":300,"height":300,"caption":"Wylie Communications Inc."},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/WylieCommunications","https:\/\/x.com\/AnnWylie","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/wyliecomm\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/wylie-communications-inc-","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/wyliecomminc\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#\/schema\/person\/85f5e705a38c31f4a0c59c982a66ce5e","name":"Ann Wylie","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/160508f95c61ef464936ccf823a20963?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/160508f95c61ef464936ccf823a20963?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Ann Wylie"},"description":"Ann Wylie runs a company called Wylie Communications Inc. She works with communicators who want to reach more readers and with organizations that want to get the word out.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ann.wylie.33","https:\/\/x.com\/AnnWylie"]}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/readability-level.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4rlSw-5Oe","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22334"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22334"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22334\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22336"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22334"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22334"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22334"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}