Readability Question

[Maggie_Secara at capgroup.com]

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                                          |
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techwr-l-bounces+maggie_secara=capgroup.com at lists.techwr-l.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.