How to turn on Microsoft Word readability function:

How to turn on Microsoft Word readability function:



1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Spelling & Grammar tab.
2. Select the Check grammar with spelling check box.
3. Select the Show readability statistics check box, and then click OK.
4. On the Standard toolbar, click Spelling and Grammar.



When Microsoft Word finishes checking spelling and grammar, it displays information about the reading level of the document.



How to translate reading grade into age (from Janice Harayda’s blog):



American children typically begin grades at these ages: kindergarten, 5; first grade, 6; second grade, 7; third grade, 8; fourth grade, 9; fifth grade, 10; sixth grade, 11; seventh grade, 12; eighth grade, 13; 9th grade (freshman year,high school), 14; 10th grade (sophomore year high school), 15; 11th grade (junior year high school), 16; 12th grade (senior year high school), 17.




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This is a very interesting subject.
much is implied by ascribing a reading age to the population at large.
If as you say the above represents the reading ages of an 8 year old and a fourteen year old respectively, it opens up some interesting questions about other works.
What do you suppose is the reading age of newton’s principia for example?
If your snippet above is a benchmark for a 14 year old, the principia might arguably be written for those with a reading age of a 200 year old?
let’s take things a step further, and look at numeracy in the general population. There are professionals, lawyers etc who are unable to perform long division, very few ever master algebra, and only a handful progress to calculus.
most of the supposedly adult population will poo poo this idea, and dismiss mathematicians, of even some who are functionally numerate as a sub species rather than admit to being innumerate themselves, and accept the implications.
So think on…!


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