UX Writing Readability Checker
Paste any UX copy – error messages, tooltips, onboarding text – and get instant Flesch readability scores, grade level, and writing tips tailored to interface copy standards.
Results will appear as you type.
Why Readability Matters in UX Writing
Most web interfaces are read at a cognitive cost – users are trying to complete a task, not enjoy prose. When interface copy is difficult to parse, users slow down, make errors, or abandon the task entirely. Research by Nielsen Norman Group shows that users read only 20–28% of words on a page. They scan. Every unnecessary syllable, every sentence that runs past 20 words, increases the chance they miss critical information.
The Flesch Reading Ease score was developed by Rudolf Flesch in 1948 and remains one of the most validated readability metrics in use today. A score of 60–70 corresponds to "standard" English – understood by most adults without effort. Plain-language guidelines from the US government recommend a target of Grade 8 or below for public-facing content. For SaaS products and mobile apps, Grade 6–8 is the practical sweet spot: professional enough to convey authority, simple enough not to slow users down.
The most common mistake in UX writing is inherited from marketing copy: long compound sentences, passive voice, and abstract nouns that bury the action. "Your request has been submitted and is currently being processed by our team" can become "We got your request. We'll respond within 2 hours." Same meaning, half the cognitive load.