Readability
I've been thinking about readability. There are many tools that measure how easy or difficult something is to read. The one I've been using analyses a passage of text and estimates its US K-12 grade level.
However, most students in the US have reading ability below their grade level. One national nonprofit working in the US to improve literacy says:
130 million Americans—54% of adults between the ages of 16 and 74 years old—lack proficiency in literacy, essentially reading below the equivalent of a sixth-grade level.
6th grade is 11 and 12 year olds.
One way to check your writing is to use this service: Measure readability
I checked the post I'm typing now, and it's at 11th grade (16 and 17 year olds) level—too difficult for many people to understand easily 
Charlie
@RarelyCharlie
Great post, RarelyCharlie. I actually work in the health care industry, and we are required to produce all of our correspondence and literature at a 5th grade reading level (5.9 or below on the US readability scales). I find a few things that help to keep the reading level down. First, limit the use of commas and run-on sentences connected by commas. Separate into shorter sentences when possible. Next, write in complete sentences. Avoid the use of contractions (you're, they're, I'm) and spell out those words.
It's not always a slam-dunk. We often have to wordsmith a bit to get the reading level in line so that we can use a brochure or a guide. It really can be a challenge!
