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When I was writing for a wide user base, we were told to aim for 6th Grade
(using the Word built-in statistics). The average reading level in the
United States is about 6th grade. Now that doesn 't mean you're writing for
12-year-olds, just for their skill level. It should NOT read like "I see
Spot" but sentences should be shorter, avoiding passive voice and complex
constructions, and so on. I was working for Marlena Coe at the time, and
she was pretty fierce about keeping the level nailed at 6th grade.
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| Maggie Secara, Technical Writer |
| The Capital Group Companies | Location: LAO-333 32 | Extension: 92274 |
| Outside: (213) 452-2274 | E-mail: maggie_secara -at- capgroup -dot- com |
| [ Mailing: 333 S. Hope Street Los Angeles, CA 90071 USA ] |
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techwr-l-bounces+maggie_secara=capgroup -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com wrote on
01/04/2007 12:50:41 PM:
> Colleagues,
> Here is a question that I'm sure has been asked in the past. We develop
> technical training for human resource management system software and
> payroll software and have a very diverse audience. One of the
> "standards" that we are in the process of discussing across our business
> units is that of readability levels. So, to be brief, would you please
> share with me the readability levels you target for specific audiences
> and/or cite other sources that may have that information? We would
> greatly appreciate your insights.
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