Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Jul 1999

Last Rites for Readability Formulas in Technical Communication

Bradford R. Connatser

Abstract

Some reading researchers and technical communicators assume the efficacy of readability formulas. Reading researchers use such formulas to equalize the reading difficulty of texts used in experiments. Results of an informal Internet survey indicate that some professional writers and editors use readability formulas that are integrated into word-processing software. This article proposes that readability formulas fail to predict text difficulty. The results of an experiment demonstrate that “text difficulty” is a perception of the reader and therefore cannot be objectively calculated by counting syllables, word length, sentence length, and other text characteristics.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
1999-07-01
DOI
10.2190/6ewh-j5c5-av1x-kdgj
CompPile
Search in CompPile ↗
Open Access
Closed
Topics
technical communication
Export
BibTeX RIS

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (2)

  1. Connatser (2007)
    Two Centuries of Progress in Technical Communication
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. Giles et al. (2005)
    A Syntactic Approach to Readability
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

References (47) · 5 in this index

  1. 10.1108/eb026811
     ↗
  2. Abram M. J. (1981)
    Lifelong Learning
  3. Flesch R. (1943)
    Marks of Readable Writing: A Study in Adult Education Style
  4. Dale E. (1948)
    Educational Research Bulletin
  5. 10.1037/0022-0663.73.4.602
     ↗
Show all 47 →
  1. Herren C. M. (1992)
    The Effect of Three Levels of Reading Speed on Recall and Recognition and the Relationshi…
  2. 10.21236/ADA067779
     ↗
  3. Spyridakis et al. (1998)
    Nominalizations vs. Denominalizations: Do They Influence What Readers Recall?
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  4. 10.1080/00220671.1959.10882573
     ↗
  5. 10.1111/j.1460-2466.1976.tb01359.x
     ↗
  6. Herculane Sister M. (1961)
    Journal of Developmental Reading
  7. 10.1080/10862968309547489
     ↗
  8. Birkmire D. P., Text Processing: The Influence of Text Structure, Background, Knowledge, and Purpose, Reading…
     ↗
  9. 10.2307/747517
     ↗
  10. 10.21236/ADA086408
     ↗
  11. Taylor M. C. and Wahlstrom M. W., Readability as Applied to an ABE Assessment Instrument, at Web site for the…
  12. Redish J. (1985)
    Technical Communication
  13. Giles (1990)
    The Readability Controversy: A Technical Writing Review
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  14. Hanna J. (1994)
    Technical Communication
  15. Schrock K., Fry's Readability Graph: Directions for Use, at Web site Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators, htt…
  16. Markel M. H. (1988)
    Technical Writing: Situations and Strategies
  17. Pattow D. (1993)
    Communicating Technical Information: A Guide for the Electronic Age
  18. Word Version 6.0.1 for Power Macintosh
  19. Kelly R. (1986)
    Sudden Fiction: American Short-Short Stories
  20. Haney D. Q., Doctors Still Leery of Using Drug to Treat Strokes: Clot Busting Medication Can Be Lethal When B…
  21. London B. (1994)
    Photography
  22. (1993)
    The Chicago Manual of Style
  23. Dale E. (1979)
    The Living Word Vocabulary: The Words We Know: A National Vocabulary Inventory Study
  24. Dale E. (1979)
    Supplement to Existing 1976 Edition of the Living Word Vocabulary
  25. Stempel G. H. (1989)
    Research Methods in Mass Communication
  26. 10.1002/tea.3660280407
     ↗
  27. Smith F. (1978)
    Understanding Reading: A Psycholinguistic Analysis of Reading and Learning to Read
  28. Moore P. (1997)
    Technical Communication
  29. 10.1080/10862967609547171
     ↗
  30. 10.1177/073953298400500401
     ↗
  31. 10.1037/e412952005-009
     ↗
  32. O'Connor Betty (1950)
    Better Homes and Gardens Story Book
  33. Bush D. (1998)
    Proceedings of the 45th Int. Technical Communication Conference
  34. 10.2190/2LN8-8CHQ-64MU-7D9C
     ↗
  35. Goetz E. T. (1982)
    Reading in Perspective; What Real Cops and Pretend Burglars Look for in a Story
  36. Jong et al. (1996)
    Expert Judgments versus Reader Feedback: A Comparison of Text Evaluation Techniques
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  37. Connatser (1997)
    The Evolution of the Speech Instinct in Silent Reading: Implications for Techni…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  38. Connatser (1997)
    A Phonological Reading Model for Technical Communicators
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  39. Connatser Bradford R., The Things Our Readers Do, Intercom Magazine, pp. 14–15, December 1996.
  40. Connatser Bradford R., Photography Basics for Technical Communicators: Part 1: Equipping a Communication Depa…
  41. Connatser Bradford R., Photography Basics for Technical Communicators: Part 2: Taking Technical Photographs, …
  42. Connatser Bradford R. (1994)
    Technical Communication
CrossRef global citation count: 17 View in citation network → Build reading path →

Related Articles

  1. Written Communication May 2026
    Leveraging Human-Centered Design and Artificial Intelligence to Improve Rural Healthcare: Wicked Problems, Design Thinking, and Mutable Methodologies ↗
    Richard Johnson-Sheehan; Thomas Rickert; Paul Thompson Hunter; Adrianna Deptula
    technical communication artificial intelligence
  2. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication May 2026
    The User Experience of Virtual Reality for Longitudinal Writing: A Diary Study of Immersive Graduate Dissertation Composing Experience ↗
    Jason Tham; Rich Shivener; Niveditha Pookkottuvariam; Sarah Riddick
    rhetorical criticism graduate education technical communication archival research empirical research qualitative research
  3. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Apr 2026
    Visualizing Heat Risk: Infographics, Memorability, and Design ↗
    Preksha Mysore; Kathryn Lambrecht
    technical communication
  4. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Apr 2026
    Developing Intercultural Socioemotional Communication Skills: A Hybrid Student Exchange Project Between Kenya, Ireland, and Germany ↗
    Belinda Oechsler; Yvonne Cleary; Sissi Closs
    technical communication professional writing
  5. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Apr 2026
    What Video Games Can Tell Us About Interactive Technical Communication ↗
    Emily Kuzneski Johnson
    technical communication multimodality