Grammar Checkers and Reading Ease

Common word-processing programs have both spell-checkers and grammar checkers.  You can often set these to check as you go or to only operate when you open them.  You can set the grammar checkers to check at different levels of formality and to check specific grammatical issues.

Setting Grammar Checkers for Formality Level and to Catch Specific Problems

WordPerfect 12 - To set Grammatik. Go to Tools. Scroll down to Grammatik and click. When the Grammatik window is open, click options. Then click checking styles. Click edit styles to tell Grammatik which items you wish to have checked.

MS Word 97, 2000, etc. - To set the grammar checker. Go to Tools. Scroll down to Options and click. When Options is open, click on spelling and grammar tab. Set writing style. Click settings to choose which items you wish to have checked.

MS Word 2007 - Click on the Office Button.  Then click on Word Options in lower right corner of box.   Then click on Proofing in the Left Menu.  To tell the grammar checker what to check for:  In the "When Correcting Grammar and Spelling Section"  next to Grammar and Style, click on Settings.   Check or uncheck the appropriate boxes.  I would also highly recommend making sure the "Show Readability Statistics" box is checked in the "When Correcting Grammar and Spelling Section."  There is more information at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word/HP101485061033.aspx#1

MS Word 2010 - Click on File tab.  Click on Options. Click on Proofing.  Check or uncheck appropriate boxes.  Click on Settings for Style.  You may have to open a document to get to the style settings.  See http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/select-grammar-and-writing-style-options-HP010354284.aspx#BM1   

Reading Ease Scales

Reading ease scales will help you to determine when your prose is easy and clear to read for various audiences or grade levels.  Many word-processors will calculate this for you.  Key reference points are the numbers of words in sentences and the number of syllables in words.

For further explanation see:

http://www.utexas.edu/research/accessibility/resource/readability/manual/forcast-versus-flesch-English.html

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word/HP101485061033.aspx#1

Scales:

Flesch Reading Ease = 0 is the most difficult to read and 100 is the easiest to read.

Flesch-Kincaid gives grade level: example 12.0 is exactly twelfth grade level