Toolkit Part 7: Using readability formulas
Guidance for the links to the download for Toolkit Part 7, Using readability formulas: A cautionary note
Issued by: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Issue Date: February 11, 2020
This page links to the download for Toolkit Part 7, Using readability formulas: A cautionary note. This part covers the following topics:
- Introduction
- Background on the Toolkit
- What are "readability formulas"?
- Why be cautious about using readability formulas?
- Reason for caution 1: Readability formulas ignore most factors that contribute to ease of reading and comprehension.
- Reason for caution 2: Grade level scores tend to be unreliable.
- Reason for caution 3: Grade level scores are less precise than they sound and prone to misinterpretation.
- Reason for caution 4: Imposing a grade level requirement has the potential to do harm.
- Recommendations for using readability formulas
- Recommendation 1: Do not use readability formulas to assess overall suitability.
- Recommendation 2: Pick your formula and method carefully.
- Recommendation 3: Interpret reading grade level scores broadly as indicating a general range of difficulty.
- Recommendation 4: Report grade level scores in ways that acknowledge their narrow scope and limitations.
- Instructions for using readability formulas
- Instructions for using the Fry method
- Instructions for using the SMOG
To view Toolkit Part 7, click the download listed below. You are also allowed to save or print a copy of this download from your personal computer.
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