Pink PostFlesch reading ease and grade level
The Flesch reading ease score rates text from 0 to 100 using average sentence length and syllables per word. Higher is easier: 60–70 is plain English, 80+ is very easy. The Flesch-Kincaid grade level turns the same inputs into a US school grade. Both are approximations, especially for short texts, names and URLs, but they reliably catch long sentences and heavy words.
Score bands
| Score | Level | Feels like |
|---|---|---|
| 90–100 | Very easy | Short, everyday sentences. |
| 80–89 | Easy | Conversational email. |
| 60–79 | Plain English | Good target for pitches. |
| 50–59 | Fairly hard | Trim sentences. |
| 30–49 | Hard | Academic style. |
| 0–29 | Very hard | Legal or technical. |
How long should an outreach email be?
Editors read pitches on phones, between other tasks. Most outreach guidance lands on 50–150 words for a first email: enough for a specific opener, the reason, the value and one ask. Follow-ups should be shorter still. If you are over 200 words, cut background about yourself; keep anything about them.
Quick ways to raise readability
- One idea per sentence. Split anything over 25 words.
- Prefer short words: "use" not "utilise", "help" not "facilitate".
- Put the ask on its own line.
- Use a list for multiple guest post angles.
- Cut filler openers like "I hope this email finds you well".