Readability refers to the simplicity of reading and understanding the information being conveyed. Therefore, the information should be clear and concise to avoid any misconception of the ideas. It is necessary to proof read any document or information before sending it to the receiver to check whether it is easy to understand. However, the levels of understanding differ among different individuals as it can be attributed to the level of education one has acquired. The readability nature of the texts avoids use of technical terms that are only familiar with a specific profession (Zakaluk, Beverley, and S 67). If the information is handwritten, the writer should make sure that the handwriting is clear to avoid leaving loop holes for distortion of information. On the other hand, reading levels refers to the stages which the readers ought to go through. The levels are different so suit the needs of the consumers as no one should be higher or below their age for example, the children should not be subjected to adult books. Reading levels differ in terms of the vocabularies used and the length of the texts.
Reading levels can be determined by the use of formulas that involve calculations and graphs. In the New York Times newspaper from the United States in the business section and the reading level would be high since there is use of graphs. To be able to understand the graph fully, it has to be fully analyzed to understand the state of the economy in the country. The numbers used there could help the investors and business people to make informed decisions relating to their investments (Chall, Jeanne, and Edgar 21). The other book assessed is the academic books used in literature. The use of symbols, metaphors and other styles attributes to the high school students and their educators. The books should not be distributed to the low levels since; they would not understand anything. The other document used was a periodical from one of the African countries that showed their economic stability. The reading level would be high as it would be targeting the leaders so as to know the economic status of their nations. Students and other members would least understand of the statistics.
The other three methods are; the flesch formula, which is mostly used by the upper elementary grades. One is required to select a paragraph with one hundred words and count the number of sentences contained in it. The number of the syllables should be counted. Later the number of words is divided with the number of sentences which is them multiplied by 1.015. The number of the syllables gotten earlier is also divided by the number of the words in the paragraph and the result multiplied by 84.6. The result found earlier after in the division is then added to the recent one, and the total is subtracted from 206.835. The result found will be the reading ease score. If the answer is twenty nine and below, it is attributable to the high levels whereas from ninety and above is meant for low levels.
Power Sumner Kearl formula is used to define the readability of books. A one hundred text is selected and the number of sentences counted and the number divided by one hundred. The result is multiplied by 0.0778. The number of syllables multiplied by 0.0455 and the result added to the result which was multiplied by 0.778 and subtracts 2.2029 from the total to get the grade level. Reading age is arrived at by adding the previous total to 2.7971. The third formula is the gunning fog index defines the readability for upper elementary. One hundred words are selected and the number of sentences counted (Kirk, Ken 253). Then the number of sentences is divided by the number of words to get the average sentence length. The number of syllables is then counted and used to divide the one hundred words to get the percentage of the ‘huge words’. Average sentence length is added to percentage of the huge words and answer multiplied by 2.4 to get the readability level in the elementary level.
The average reading level of a typical adult in the workforce is average due to the fact of the ranging differences in the reading levels. The reading level is low among the people who are not in office work thus requiring no skills and profession for example, the flower gardeners. High readability is efficient and effective in the employees who hold various offices. This is because they are the backbone of the organization since they ensure a free flow of transactions (Caldwell, JoAnne 274). The factor could be attributed to the employees being employed on merit. The management needs to possess high readability for the juniors to have someone to look up to. They also gain respect from the outside world. Most of the employees understand the tasks assigned to them and do them efficiently be it communicating with the suppliers or customers. The high level of readability has been achieved and it is evident enough through the sales and revenues of the company. The customer loyalty has also increased.
Work cited
Zakaluk, Beverley L, and S J. Samuels. Readability: Its Past, Present, and Future. Newark, Del:
International Reading Association, 1988. Print.
Chall, Jeanne S, and Edgar Dale. Readability Revisited: The New Dale-Chall Readability Formula.
Cambridge, Mass: Brookline Books, 1995. Print.
Kirk, Ken. Writing for Readability. Alexandria, VA: ASTD Press, 2010. Internet resource.
Caldwell, JoAnne. Reading Assessment: A Primer for Teachers and Coaches. New York: Guilford Press,
2008. Print.
Bamford, Julian, and Richard R. Day. Extensive Reading Activities for Teaching Language. Cambridge, UK:
Cambridge University Press, 2005. Print.
