Readability in Proposals: Improve it in Four Easy Steps SAMANTHA ENSLEN Dragonfly Editorial 1 WHAT it is HOW to measure it HOW to improve it WHY it’s important 22 1 WHAT IS  READABILITY? 3 Readability  = How EASY it is to read a piece of  writing 2 high low The fathers  of readability bad good The fathers  of readability Fleish Kincaid 3 The fathers  of readability Flesch‐ Kincaid  Grade Level  Readability Flesh  Reading  Ease 4 % short vs. long words % short vs. long sentences They assess Text with shorter words and sentences More readable 13th 10 5 13.5‐th 11 2nd 5th 5th–7th 9th 12 6 Readability Flesch‐Kincaid grade level  goals = 5th – 9th Flesch reading ease  ≥ 60 HOW DO YOU  MEASURE IT? 14 7 Microsoft  Word 15 Turn on  readability 8 Options Proofing, Show  readability  stats 9 19 Get  readability  stats 10