Reading in a crisis: readability of risk communication

To understand a message, it needs to be readable to be understood. But what happens if you're in a high stress situation?

28 June 2018 by Ruth Colmer

Creating readability formulas for non-English languages: the problem of the syllable

A readability score is a computer-calculated index which can tell you roughly what level of education someone will need to be able to read a piece of text easily.

20 December 2017 by Ruth Colmer

Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin: the benefits of reading to children

The reading of the bedtime story is a daily ritual in many households and one that can be enjoyed by both parent and child.

16 December 2017 by Ruth Colmer

Have you read the terms and conditions? The readability of insurance policies

How readable are insurance policies? What are the implications of difficult insurance policies? What steps can be taken to improve their readability?

8 November 2017 by Ruth Colmer

How to choose the right readability formula

When it comes to measuring readability, there are a whole variety of readability tests. You could go for the long established Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease or the later Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level. But what about the Gunning-Fog and the New Dale-Chall?

4 April 2017 by Ruth Colmer

Death by (poor) readability

At least 6 out of 10 US adults who have internet access use the internet to look up health information. We are all self-diagnosing, self-prescribing and generally bypassing a visit to the GP in exchange for a quick search on Google. And it’s not just the internet where we get acquainted with health advice.

27 March 2017 by Ruth Colmer

Inspire your way out of writer’s block

Every writer will at some point be faced with writer’s block. So, how can you tempt inspiration out of the shadows and words onto the page?

24 February 2017 by Ruth Colmer

The importance of readability of user generated content

Marketers have become increasingly aware of the importance of readability in getting customers engaged in their products and services. By ensuring text is easily readable, marketers can communicate their messages in a clear and engaging way their customers will respond to.

22 February 2017 by Ruth Colmer

Readability for marketers

You have a product or service that you want to sell. But in order to make sales you need potential customers to engage with your message about that commodity. Without engagement the potential customer is not going to click through and purchase what you have to offer.

12 December 2016 by Ruth Colmer

Readability for authors

You have an idea for a novel, a short story, an article. It has everything – complex characters, suspense, and a killer of an ending. All you need to do is transform it into a beautifully polished piece that conveys the characters and their story exactly how they appear in your head.

22 October 2016 by Ruth Colmer