Where to find readability statistics in Word

Microsoft Word has a built-in readability tool that measures how difficult your text is to understand. To see it, you need to turn on the readability statistics feature in your settings, then run a spell check. Word will then show you metrics like reading level, sentence length, and passive voice percentage.

The readability tool works in Word for Windows, Word for Mac, and Word online, though the steps differ slightly between versions. Once enabled, the readability report appears automatically after you finish a spell check, without any extra clicks needed.

Key Takeaways

  • Readability statistics are hidden by default in Word and must be turned on through the Options menu before they will appear.
  • The readability report shows up after you run a spell check, displaying metrics like Flesch Reading Ease and grade level.
  • A Flesch Reading Ease score of 60 to 70 means your writing is easy to understand for most readers.
  • Word measures passive voice, sentence length, and word length to calculate how hard your text is to read.

Turning on readability statistics in Word for Windows

Open Word and go to File in the top left corner. Click Options at the bottom of the menu. In the Options window, select Proofing from the left sidebar.

Under the "When correcting spelling and grammar in Word" section, check the box next to Show readability statistics. Click OK to save the change. The setting stays on until you turn it off again, so you only need to do this once.

Turning on readability statistics in Word for Mac

Click Word in the menu bar at the top of the screen, then select Preferences. In the Preferences window, click Spelling and Grammar. Look for the checkbox labeled Show readability statistics and click it to enable the feature.

Close the Preferences window. Like the Windows version, this setting remains active across all your documents until you disable it.

Running a spell check to see your readability report

Once readability statistics are turned on, open any document you want to check. Go to Review in the ribbon at the top, then click Spelling & Grammar (or Editor in newer versions). Word will scan your document for spelling and grammar errors.

When the scan finishes, a window appears showing spelling and grammar issues. At the bottom of this window, you will see a button or link for Readability Statistics. Click it to open a separate window displaying your readability metrics. If your document has no spelling or grammar errors, Word still shows the readability statistics window after the scan completes.

Understanding your readability scores

The readability report shows several numbers. Flesch Reading Ease is the most common score, ranging from 0 to 100. A score of 60 to 70 means your writing is easy to understand for most adults. A score above 80 is very easy; below 40 is difficult. Most business writing aims for 50 to 70.

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level tells you what school grade level a reader needs to understand your text. A grade level of 8 means an eighth-grader should be able to follow it. The report also shows your average sentence length, word length, and percentage of passive voice sentences. Shorter sentences and fewer passive constructions usually raise your readability score.

What readability statistics measure

Word calculates readability based on three main factors: how many words are in each sentence, how many syllables are in each word, and how often you use passive voice. Longer sentences and words with more syllables make text harder to read. Passive voice (like "the report was written by Sarah") also lowers readability compared to active voice ("Sarah wrote the report").

These metrics work best for English text. They do not account for how familiar a reader is with your topic, how well your ideas are organized, or whether your writing is actually useful. A document can score high on readability but still be confusing if the ideas are poorly arranged or the topic is unfamiliar to the reader.

Using readability feedback to improve your writing

If your readability score is lower than you want, look at the sentences Word flagged as passive voice. Rewriting these in active voice often improves both readability and clarity. Break up long sentences into shorter ones — aim for an average of 15 to 20 words per sentence for general audiences.

Replace long or uncommon words with shorter alternatives when possible. For example, "utilize" becomes "use," and "subsequent to" becomes "after." Check your score again after making changes by running another spell check. You do not need to turn the feature back on; it stays enabled until you disable it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word not show readability statistics after I run spell check?

The feature is likely not turned on. Go back to File > Options > Proofing (Windows) or Word > Preferences > Spelling and Grammar (Mac) and make sure the "Show readability statistics" box is checked. If it is already checked, try closing and reopening Word.

What is a good readability score?

For most business and general writing, aim for a Flesch Reading Ease score between 50 and 70, which corresponds to a grade level of 8 to 10. For technical writing or academic papers, scores between 30 and 50 are normal. For content aimed at a general audience, scores above 60 are better.

Does readability statistics work in Word online?

Word online has a limited version of the Editor tool that shows some grammar and clarity suggestions, but it does not display the full readability statistics report like the desktop versions do. For the complete readability metrics, use Word for Windows or Word for Mac.

Can I check readability for just part of my document?

Readability statistics always measure your entire document. If you want to check a specific section, copy that text into a new document, run the spell check there, and check the readability of that new file instead.