My audience isn’t made up of kids. Why do I have to write at the 3rd grade level?
“I know my audience is intelligent. Isn’t it insulting to write for a third to seventh-grade level when I’m writing my copy for them?”
Not the first time I’ve heard this, and when I was starting out, I definitely wondered about this too!
But here’s the thing. When it comes to writing for a broad audience, especially if you have a product or service that serves a wide range of people, one of the most important considerations you must make is readability. In other words, you want to make sure that your writing is accessible and easy to understand for as many people as possible. And a widely accepted guideline for achieving this? It’s to aim for a reading level that falls somewhere between a third and seventh grade level.
But why is this guideline so commonly recommended? Is it really necessary, or is it just a way of “dumbing down” content for the masses?
Let’s think about this in another way. When we write at a lower reading level, it’s not about insulting readers or underestimating their intelligence. Rather, it's about recognizing that not everyone has the same level of education, vocabulary, or reading comprehension skills. By writing at a simpler level, you can make your content more accessible to a wider range of people, including those who may struggle with complex language or have limited English proficiency.
Let’s use this example. Imagine that you're writing a blog post about a scientific study on the health benefits of a certain type of food. If you write the post using technical jargon and complex language, you might alienate readers who aren’t familiar with scientific terminology. So you might lose your reader, intimidating or turning them off, or simply lose out on their interest, instead of engaging them. Now, if you write the same content using simpler language and explanations, you’re making the content accessible to a much broader audience, including those who may not have a strong background in science.
So let’s keep going here. What does it actually mean to write at a third to seventh grade reading level? Essentially, it means using simple, straightforward language and sentence structure, avoiding unnecessarily complex vocabulary or syntax, and breaking down complex concepts into more manageable chunks.
Need more guidance doing this? Here are a few tips I’ve learned through the years.
Use simple words: Instead of using long, convoluted words, opt for shorter, more common words that are easy to understand. For example, use "begin" instead of "commence," "use" instead of "utilize," and "help" instead of "facilitate." (Hey, you know what, I’m a fan of the thesaurus, but now’s not the time. ;) )
Keep sentences short: Long, run-on sentences can be confusing and difficult to follow. Instead, break up your sentences into shorter, more digestible chunks. Aim for an average sentence length of around 15-20 words, or shorter if you can, as long as your paragraphs aren’t sounding chunky or broken.
Use active voice: Passive voice can make sentences more complex and harder to follow. Whenever possible, use active voice to make your writing more clear and direct. Instead of saying, “Our healthy, thoughtfully planned meals are loved by thousands of loyal customers,” try, “Thousands of customers love our healthy, ready-to-eat meals!”
Break down complex concepts: If you need to explain a complex concept, try breaking it down into simpler parts or using analogies to help readers understand. For example, if you're writing about a scientific study, you could use a comparison to a common household item to help readers understand the significance of the findings. It’s about relatability.
Use visuals: Visual aids like graphs, charts, and diagrams can help readers understand complex information more easily. Use these whenever possible to help illustrate your points (and make sure you’re adding simple descriptions under your images for accessibility).
Look, writing at a lower reading level doesn't mean that you have to sacrifice sophistication or nuance in your writing. And you’re not minimizing the intelligence of your readers. Writing thought-provoking, engaging content while keeping your language simple and straightforward is a good thing, and definitely a skill to hone.
