I dissent – the true sign of genius is to not write at a level which requires a post-graduate education to decipher; but to write at a level which all can understand.
At work, I strive to produce all legal documents and letters readable by a 5th grader, while not sacrificing specificity. I’ve used Flesch-Kincaid, Gunning – FOG, SMOG, Coleman-Liau, and Fry to work at this. Similarly, I give new attorneys Prof. Eugene Volokh’s “Eschew, Evade, and/or Eradicate Legalese” available here: http://tinyurl.com/4vge5z
If I write: “The Consumer, as defined in paragraph one, will be charged an assessment due to late performance (as defined above)” in a contract, that might earn that contract a genius level readability score, but I’d much rather write something like “We will charge you a late fee” and get a grade school readability score.
—-
Having written the above, you can see what a failure I am. I plugged this into a Flesch-Kincaid calculator (here: http://tinyurl.com/3ntyt3) and came up with some high scores:
[blockquote] I dissent – the true sign of genius is to not write at a level which requires a post-graduate education to decipher; but to write at a level which all can understand. [/blockquote] I agree, noting that most newspapers are written at the 5th grade level, and I have come to appreciate the NLT Bible translation at the 4th grade level.
Having said that, my Gulf Coast blog measures Junior High School, while my current blog measures at High School level.
Wow, I’ve never gotten a billing on Titus One Nine before…what an honor!
I was, in fact, just ordained a priest on May 1st. Due to my contrarian nature, I usually don’t use the “+” sign on my screen name. I usually use a “-” or perhaps even a “%” sign to see if anyone gets it.
Yes, sometimes my humor is so subtle that I don’t even get it.
-The Archer+ * & % (or whatever)
[i] Best wishes on your ordination and new ministry.[/i]
#8…From all my years of writing press releases, brochures,
advertisements, etc. as a public relations and marketing director,
I always aimed to write at a 6th grade level. Now certainly there were vast differences in reading abilities among sixth graders, but the bottom line was (and is today in my life as a mom) to share the message clearly. (Especially when that message begins with a capital “M”!)
Heck, we all knew that…….genius of course…..and we the genius readers are chips off the old block – genious every one….
t19 was at college undegrad level when I checked Sunday 5-25 7:48 pm
#2, perhaps… but a really, really smart undergrad at a really, really good school 🙂
Genius. Same as it was last time I checked. Of course, genius can have many meanings.
The Episcopal Church: Where vox populi is always received as Vox Dei.
# 4 Where vox populi is always received as Vox Dei…Heh, heh…Great!
Here are some of my fav’s:
Stand Firm is college (postgrad) right now despite the thread about Gene Robinson’s June “wedding” plans.
Brad Drell’s is high school.
Anglican Curmudgeon is genius
Still on Patrol is college (undergrad).
Dean Munday’s To All the World blog is highschool.
And D.C. Toedt’s Questioning Christian is also highschool.
I am skeptical about the last two.
I believe that The Archer of the Forest, as of last Ascension Day, is now The Archer+ of the Forest.
I dissent – the true sign of genius is to not write at a level which requires a post-graduate education to decipher; but to write at a level which all can understand.
At work, I strive to produce all legal documents and letters readable by a 5th grader, while not sacrificing specificity. I’ve used Flesch-Kincaid, Gunning – FOG, SMOG, Coleman-Liau, and Fry to work at this. Similarly, I give new attorneys Prof. Eugene Volokh’s “Eschew, Evade, and/or Eradicate Legalese” available here: http://tinyurl.com/4vge5z
If I write: “The Consumer, as defined in paragraph one, will be charged an assessment due to late performance (as defined above)” in a contract, that might earn that contract a genius level readability score, but I’d much rather write something like “We will charge you a late fee” and get a grade school readability score.
—-
Having written the above, you can see what a failure I am. I plugged this into a Flesch-Kincaid calculator (here: http://tinyurl.com/3ntyt3) and came up with some high scores:
Method used: Flesch-Kincaid (English).
Flesch-Kincaid Grade level: 16.
Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease score: 19.
I’m hoping it’s because of the mention of the different tests and quoting Volokh’s pamphlet.
That site is fun!
T19 and the episcopal church website were both college undergraduate
MCJ – High School
Inch at a time was Junior High School
Another strange experiment:
Detroit Free Press — Junior High School
New York Times — High School
Chicago Tribune — Genius
Really???
[blockquote] I dissent – the true sign of genius is to not write at a level which requires a post-graduate education to decipher; but to write at a level which all can understand. [/blockquote] I agree, noting that most newspapers are written at the 5th grade level, and I have come to appreciate the NLT Bible translation at the 4th grade level.
Having said that, my Gulf Coast blog measures Junior High School, while my current blog measures at High School level.
[size=1][color=red][url=http://resurrectioncommunitypersonal.blogspot.com/]The Rabbit[/url][/color][color=gray].[/color][/size]
Wow, I’ve never gotten a billing on Titus One Nine before…what an honor!
I was, in fact, just ordained a priest on May 1st. Due to my contrarian nature, I usually don’t use the “+” sign on my screen name. I usually use a “-” or perhaps even a “%” sign to see if anyone gets it.
Yes, sometimes my humor is so subtle that I don’t even get it.
-The Archer+ * & % (or whatever)
[i] Best wishes on your ordination and new ministry.[/i]
The Elves
And the Dallas Morning News is “College (Post-grad)” reading level? Hmm . . . I hae me doots! (As my Scottish great-grandmother used to say.)
#8…From all my years of writing press releases, brochures,
advertisements, etc. as a public relations and marketing director,
I always aimed to write at a 6th grade level. Now certainly there were vast differences in reading abilities among sixth graders, but the bottom line was (and is today in my life as a mom) to share the message clearly. (Especially when that message begins with a capital “M”!)