What is readability?
Readability is about communicating ideas in the clearest and most accessible way possible.
Most people are busy. They don’t have the time to unpack overly long sentences and complex diction.
Are there proven strategies to improve readability?
Proofreading your copy with Readable is an actionable, systematic process. Creating readable content takes work and attention to detail. Using our highlights, feedback and score tabs, you can quickly find the parts of your text that need the most attention.
Here are 7 strategies to simplify your writing and improve the readability of what you write:
1. Use short, easy words.
The more syllables your words have, the harder they are to read. Don’t use a 4-syllable word if a 2-syllable word works just as well. Also, consider that not everyone has the same vocabulary as you. If you use words like “inchoate” or “inordinate,” you’re going to lose most of your readers. Readable will help you. We pick shorter words by suggesting synonyms to give you a great alternative. Simply hover and click.
2. Shorten your sentences.
Keeping your sentences short will correct convoluted sentences, increasing readability.
If you have long sentences in your copy, try breaking them up into several short sentences. Do this by focusing on the principle of ‘one idea per sentence’. Do you have more than one idea in a sentence? Starting a new sentence instead is a good rule of thumb.
Look for the ‘very long sentences’ count within your readability results. Clicking on this count will help you navigate through the sentences which take priority in your initial edits.
3. Mix some of your adjectives and adverbs.
Adjectives and adverbs, also called “modifiers”, slightly alter the meaning of a noun or verb.
That modification process requires the brain to do extra work. Unless your adverbs or adjectives are vital to the meaning of a sentence, cut them.
4. Drop the jargon.
Most occupations use language that’s not used by the general public. Remember who your audience is when you’re writing.
Unless you’ll only be read by people in your profession, replace insider jargon with the layperson terms.
5. Use reader-friendly fonts.
You might be tempted to use “fancy” fonts (like Papyrus) to make your writing look more authoritative. Sadly, they make your text less readable.
Use fonts that are easy on the eye, including Times New Roman, Arial, Helvetica, and Open Sans. There’s a reason these fonts are widely used on webpages.
6. Break up your copy.
Just as long words and long sentences tend to compromise readability, overly long paragraphs tend to confuse and frustrate readers.
Break up your copy using helpful headers and bulleted lists.
Improving readability makes your writing stronger, trimming it down to its essentials and cutting out excess. This enhances the integrity and authority of your writing.
The more readable your copy is, the more interesting it is. And the more accessible it is to your target audience.