Reviews the literature critical of readability formulas as used in second-language reading contexts. It is suggested that such formulas not be used as guides to text production/adaptation or as measures of the difficulty of naturally occurring texts. (Author/CB)

Outlines the current uses of readability measures in education, business, and government. (SRT)

Investigated whether the use of a computer and the desire to increase readability levels of their writing would encourage student writers to revise. Results indicated an increase in the readability grade level from original drafts to revisions. (SRT)

Describes the Luiten, Ames, Bradley Readability Variation Method for estimating the variation within a text. Concludes that it is practical and relatively accurate. (HOD)

Points out that readability indexes can serve a useful role in the teaching of writing when used as they were intended to be used. Focuses on Gunning's Fog Index. (EL)

Suggests that common sense be applied when calculating text readability using a microcomputer. (CRH)

Discusses history of the development of computer software to determine material readability and general design of readability software. Tables present summaries of: (1) parameters used by selected readability scales and their grade level applications; and (2) microcomputer software programs available, including readability techniques included in…

Offers a case study of how one teacher used readability formulas to select the most appropriate materials for her students. Presents 10 suggestions that the teacher followed to avoid being tyrannized by the formulas. (FL)

The principles of readability are in every style manual. Readability formulas are in every writing aid. What is missing is the research and theory on which they stand. This short review of readability research spans 100 years. The first part covers the history of adult literacy studies in the U.S., establishing the stratified nature of the adult…

The possibility of changing the prosaic style of college level science textbooks to increase readability was investigated. Conclusions suggest that the readability of college textbook prose is not significantly affected by the stylistic factors employed in most readability formulas. (CJ)

Forty-two experienced teachers rated a set of reading passages by the SEER and the Rauding procedures. Findings indicated that the two procedures resulted in significantly different ratings, that teaching experience did not affect the rating, and that the SEER ratings agreed substantially with readability formula estimates of the same passages.…

The relationship between content readability measures and mathematics test item difficulty was measured. An attempt was made to use readability to predict item difficulty. Results from the study are noted as somewhat discouraging, with only about 11 percent of the item difficulty variance explained by the selected readability measures. (MP)

Surveys recent trends in the area of clear writing. Discusses the problem of incomprehensible language in functional writing (forms and documents). Considers solutions, particularly those developed by the Document Design Center. (PD)

Discusses the importance of determining the reading difficulty of vocational materials. Explains how to determine the readability of materials, using the FORECAST Readability Formula, presenting guidelines on how to select sample passages, apply the Formula, and analyze the data. An example showing the Formula's use is provided. (LRA)

Although the cloze procedure was shown to be satisfactorily reliable with deaf Ss, cloze scores did not relate to the predicted passage difficulty; therefore, the validity of the cloze procedure as a readability measure was not confirmed. (Author/DLS)