Determine Flesch-Kincaid Reading Levels Using Microsoft Word

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Tip:
If you need to check online or digital sources for reading level, you can use Microsoft’s Readability Scale for a rough estimate of the grade level equivalency. I say, “rough,†because while it is not precisely accurate, it can give you a ballpark idea. The tool uses the Flesch-Kincaid grade level equivalency. To read more about the Flesch-Kincaid and other reading scales, see "BizCom Tools Readability Indexes". To check for reading level:

  1. Copy text from a website.
  2. In Mac OS X, go to the Word drop down menu. In Mac OS 9 or a PC, go to the Tools drop down menu.
  3. On a Mac select Preferences. On a PC, select Options.
  4. Select Spelling and Grammar.
  5. Check Show readability statistics and click OK.
  6. Now when you use the spell check tool, it will automatically tell you the Flesch-Kincaid grade level equivalency.

Submitted by:Adrienne DeWolf

Tech & Learning