Last Rites for Readability Formulas in Technical Communication

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
Open Access: Closed
Topics: technical communication

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (2)

Connatser (2007)

Two Centuries of Progress in Technical Communication

Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Giles et al. (2005)

A Syntactic Approach to Readability

Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

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Nominalizations vs. Denominalizations: Do They Influence What Readers Recall?

Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
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Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
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Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
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Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
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Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

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