WordPress is the biggest content management system in the world. According to whoishosting.com, about 455,000,000 websites are currently active. This means that around 20% of all self-hosted websites use WordPress.
As a writer, there are several parameters that help you get the most out of your writing. One of which is WordPress and its readability score.
The WordPress readability score is a parameter that helps writers write good text that is easy to read and passes its information in the clearest of ways.
It is easier to lose your reader in written communication than in verbal communication. This is because, in verbal communication, the recipient of your message can easily interrupt you if something is unclear or needs further explanation.
However, in written communication, your recipient can’t see you or request an explanation. It will have to make do with whatever information it can comprehend.
This is why it is advised that you use the best tools that help you make your writing better. Grammarly is one of them.
The WordPress readability score helps you check your writing to ensure your information is passed in the best way possible.
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What is Readability?
Readability, in the simplest of terms, is how easy-to-read your article is. In other words, it is the quality of your writing.
If your text has a high readability value, it means that your readers will be able to understand your sentences easily. And if it’s low, they may still be able to understand what you’re saying but in a more stressful way.
This is why it’s advisable to go for high readability scores when writing. Because it reduces misunderstandings and allows your reader to easily comprehend the information you’re trying to pass through.
More so, as a writer, you should be more concerned about how readable your content is, as it shows how engaged your readers are with it.
One way to have this under control is to reduce the number of complex words that you use. I’m not saying they’re bad, but using too many of them requires lots of attention from your reader. Honestly, nobody has the patience to pay such attention.
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Why Is Readability Important?
This question is similar to asking, “Why is oxygen important?” The answer to that is endless. Oxygen is life for every living thing on earth, and so is readability.
Aiming for high readability increases the chances of your reader understanding your text easily. It reduces the chances of misunderstanding and lets your reader understand your information directly.
In business, especially in marketing, the bulk of your sales will depend on how easily your readers understand and engage with your content.
For example, if your product description is filled with lots of complex details, there’s a high chance your readers will disappear. And, oh well, as well as your money.
Having established this, I think the real question should be, “How can I measure my readability?
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What is a Readability Score?
We’re gradually getting to the real story of today! A readability score is a number that tells you how easy it will be to read a particular text.
The WordPress readability score is the most trusted. Because it is based on the average length of sentences and words in your document, as well as a formula known as the Flesch reading ease test,.
When working on a content editor, under the readability section, you’ll see some numerical scores. The higher the number, the easier it is to read your document.
So, when you are next writing a text, aim for a high readability score of 60 or higher. With a score of 60, your document will be easy to read for most people with at least an eighth-grade education. (That’s an average 13-year-old.).
And if you’re writing for adults, having a readability score of 70 doesn’t mean you sound like an eighth-grader. In fact, it tells you that your reader will easily understand your text without stress.
How to Check Readability
It’s possible to assess your document by yourself while writing. But the problem with this is that you may not be as accurate as is required.
Firstly, it’s hard to ensure that you are measuring every parameter required. Secondly, using a manual process to check your readability score can be time-consuming and stressful.
Hence, the easiest way to measure your readability is to use a tool that grades the document or text.
A well-known formula, for example, is the Flesch reading score. It grades writing readability based on a numeric scale from 0 to 100.
WordPress provides such an accurate grading system and is trusted by lots of writers worldwide.
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How to Improve your WordPress Readability Score
The best way to improve your readability score is to reduce the number of lengthy sentences and complex words in your text.
Instead of long sentences and complex words, go for shorter sentences and simpler words. Doing this will greatly affect your readability score and allow your readers to understand your work perfectly.
It might also be a good idea to switch out complex terms for simpler, more widely used ones. A complex vocabulary makes it more difficult to skim your pages.
Fortunately, WordPress offers a variety of suggestions to help you write concisely and find the exact word you need in any situation.
Typography is another way to improve readability. Using a small font size will negatively impact the readability and user experience of your website. Your information will be difficult to read even if it is well-written.
Choose only one or two fonts to use across your website if you are utilizing Google Fonts.
Additionally, make sure that your pages have an ample amount of white space. Try adding space between your content blocks if they are too close to one another.
By using CSS in the stylesheet of your theme, you can achieve that.
How WordPress helps you Master Readability
As stated earlier, WordPress is known as the world’s best CMS software because it helps you create your content and also helps you monitor the readability of your text.
It uses a 0 to 100 readability grading scale. This means that the higher the score, the easier it is to read and understand. A lower score means that the text is difficult to read and very complex.
There are several ways to increase your readability score. But one of the most effective ways is to shorten your sentences and simplify your word
Additionally, it offers vocabulary suggestions that tighten your writing and increase your readability score.
So, here’s the thing: if you continue to follow the WordPress readability algorithm, you’ll learn to write your articles by default according to the algorithm. It becomes ingrained in you.
You will now begin to write naturally to meet the readability requirements.
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What is a Good Readability Score?
Basically, a good readability score starts at 60 or higher. With a score of 60, your article will be easy to read for most people with at least an eighth-grade education.
How Does Readability Affect SEO?
Readability is a major factor in online content and can greatly increase your site’s search engine optimization (SEO) levels.
When readers visit your site and read and understand your content, it has a way of making them stay on the site, reducing the bounce rate.
When your bounce rate is low, your overall SEO performance is improved.
FAQS on WordPress readability score
A readability score is a number that tells you how easy it will be to read a particular text.
The best way to improve your readability score is to reduce the number of lengthy sentences and complex words in your text.
A good readability score starts at 60 or higher.
Conclusion
If you want to give your readers the best reading experience, then you should aim for a high readability score in your writing.
Learn to communicate your thoughts in shorter sentences and also try to use connective words to transit from one paragraph to another.
I hope this article helps you in your writing journey!
