How to Make Your Copy More Readable

The most readable copy is written at a 5th grade level.

Some people find that statement disturbing. 🤨

“Writing at a 5th grade level will insult my audience,” someone commented recently on LinkedIn.

It won’t.

Because here’s the thing…

Clarity trumps every other aspect of your messaging.

You can have the best product, the coolest gadget, the newest tech…

… but if no one understands what you’re saying, it doesn’t matter.

They’ll bounce.

My recent post on this subject (Grammarly, specifically) took off like a rocket launcher.

Turns out, people have pretty strong opinions about both the software. And how to word things.

So I want to clear up one something…

A few people defended the “write at a 5th grade level.”

It apparently translated to “dumbing down” the copy. It’s not the case.

Readers won’t perceive your copy as insulting. They’ll simply understand your messaging.

They’ll understand it quicker, be able to read it faster, and find it more enjoyable, research shows.

Here’s how clear copy helps the reader:

➡️ Promotes better understanding (between 13% and 48%)

➡️ Decreases reading time (by 64%)

➡️ Creates a more enjoyable experience for the reader (satisfaction increased 30% to 76%)

Tips for writing clearly:

☑️ Ask yourself, “Can I use a simpler word for this one?”

☑️ Keep words and sentences short

☑️ Is there an easier way to say something?

By the way, it’s not easy to write at a 5th grade level.

This post is at a 7th to 8th grade level.

Want to test your copy? HERE’S A LINK to a calculator.

Check out these other posts you may enjoy:

Catch ya on the flip side,

Linda

Get Our Copywriting & Marketing Tips