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Best practices

Readability checklist

Danielle Mee

Zengenti

7 October 2024

Readability impacts user experience and accessibility, which also affects your SEO score. Follow these top 10 checks to improve the readability of your content.

1. Use headers and subheaders

Add structure to your content with headers. Headers provide a hierarchy and make it easier to digest information.

Headers also aid assistive technology when reading content aloud.

2. Make titles unique and descriptive

Structure your page logically with descriptive headers, to guide users through the content. Check that the headers accurately describe the content, are unique and actionable.

3. Keep sentences under 20 words

Sentences with more than 20 words are hard to read.

Break down longer sentences into 2 or 3, or use bullet points for easier comprehension. Keep sentences simple, concise and vary the length to add interest.

4. Use plain English

Where possible, choose simple and familiar words over formal, long ones.

Imagine you are writing for a 9 year old. It is simpler to scan read and most users will understand it.

For example, replace:

  • “At the present time” with > “Now”
  • “For the reason that” with > “Because”
  • “Prior to” with > “Before”

5. Avoid jargon and buzzwords

Choose clear language to avoid misinterpretation and confusion.

Use audience appropriate word choices. Explain specialist jargon and technical language, so anyone can understand the content.

6. Check your paragraph structure

Keep each paragraph topic to a single idea.

Use transition words such as “in addition” or “furthermore” to smoothly move from one idea to another. Include a introduction, the topic and conclusion.

7. Write in the active tense

The active tense has a direct and clear tone. It also makes web content more engaging and easier to read.

For example, in the active tense:

“Zengenti launches new product features every year.”

Versus, in the passive tense:

“New product features are launched every year by Zengenti.”

8. Use personal pronouns where possible

Replace your organisation’s name with “we,” “our,” “you,” and “your” in your content where possible. This helps to shorten your writing and make your content more relatable to your audience.

9. Define acronyms and abbreviations the first time they are used

Don’t assume your audience knows the meaning of acronyms or abbreviations. For example SEO (search engine optimisation) or CMS (content management system). Explain it the first time it is used, unless it is well known like UK or NATO.

10. Use Insytful to check the reability of your website content

Insytful checks your site's content using algorithms such as Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease. To determine your readability score, Insytful measures:

  • Letter count.
  • Sentence length and complexity.
  • Syllables per word.
  • And keywords used.

Get a free website health check

Improve the readability of your content and improve user experience, with Insytful.

Danielle Mee

Zengenti

Best practices
7 October 2024