readability

USAGE SUMMARY

'readability' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe the ease with which a piece of written material can be read. For example, "The blog post had a high degree of readability, so I was able to quickly understand the material."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

2. Sliding caption column: changed heading colour to a monochrome scheme to improve readability.

The Guardian

Going on to look at success in terms of winning literary awards, the researchers found that many award-winning titles "have low readability".

The Guardian - Books

"We made an unexpected observation on the connection between readability and literary success – that they correlate into the opposite directions," said Choi.

The Guardian - Books

This set, by Econolog, is special, however, as it adds a section on readability.

The Economist

It was designed in the 1930s for the Times (of London) not just for legibility, but also for compactness so more text could fit comfortably within a column width without sacrificing readability.

The Economist

And so I'm afraid I have, in panic, had to delete every one of those 40 e-mails from you at one go just to restore some sanity and readability to my inbox.

The Economist

There is an added complication in the print edition, where we usually typeset any bunch of initials, such as IMF, OECD, BBC, in small capitals ("scaps"), to improve readability.

The Economist

In the eyes of some, her very readability made her suspect.

The Economist

By and large, he manages to resist the urge to glorify the islanders as "noble savages"—he is dismissive of the idea that, before the environmental collapse, the island had enjoyed "a thousand years of peace", for example yet his sympathy for them is obvious.One important trick that any popular historian must master is that of achieving a balance between rigour and readability.

The Economist

The prototype has a resolution of 160 pixels per inch, paper-like readability and low power consumption, though it cannot handle moving pictures yet.

The Economist

And it would be accessible, even to readers who have not spent years studying the minutiae of the financial markets.Philip Augar's "Chasing Alpha" scores well on both historical explanation and readability.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for high "readability", focus on using clear and concise language. Avoid jargon and complex sentence structures to ensure your writing is easily understood by your target audience.

Common error

Avoid using overly complex sentence structures in an attempt to sound sophisticated. Shorter, more direct sentences enhance "readability" and ensure your message is easily understood.

Linguistic Context

The noun "readability" functions as a quality or attribute of written text. It describes the degree to which a text is easy and enjoyable to read and understand. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word is well-established and useful in describing the ease of comprehension of written content.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "readability" is a noun denoting the ease with which a text can be read and understood. As Ludwig AI states, the term is correct and widely used in written English. Its grammatical status is correct, and it appears very commonly across diverse contexts like news media, encyclopedias, and scientific publications. High "readability" is achieved through clear, concise language and avoiding complex sentence structures. Related phrases include "ease of reading" and "clarity of text". The consistent appearance of "readability" in reputable sources emphasizes its importance in effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ease of reading

Focuses on the act of reading itself and how easy it is.

clarity of text

Emphasizes the clearness and lucidity of the written material.

legibility

Refers to the quality of being clear enough to read.

understandability

Highlights the capacity of being comprehended.

comprehensibility

Similar to understandability, but often implies a broader scope.

accessibility of language

Focuses on how easily the language can be accessed and understood by a wide audience.

lucidity

Implies a clear and easily understood presentation.

simplicity of expression

Highlights the simple and straightforward nature of the writing.

plain language

Refers to language that is clear, straightforward, and avoids jargon.

ease of comprehension

Emphasizes how easily the text can be grasped and understood.

FAQs

How can I improve the "readability" of my writing?

To enhance "readability", use shorter sentences, avoid jargon, and choose simple words. Also, use headings and subheadings to break up the text and improve scannability.

What makes a text high in "readability"?

A text with high "readability" is easy to understand, engaging, and free of unnecessary complexity. It uses clear language and is well-organized.

What is the difference between "readability" and "legibility"?

"Readability" refers to how easy a text is to understand, while "legibility" refers to how easy the letters and words are to recognize visually. A text can be "legible" but still lack "readability" if the language is too complex.

What are some tools to measure "readability"?

Several tools can measure "readability", including the Flesch-Kincaid "readability" test, the Gunning Fog Index, and the SMOG index. These tools analyze sentence length and word complexity to estimate the grade level required to understand a text.