LinkedIn Post Readability Score Optimizer

Why Check Your LinkedIn Post Readability

Readability is the ease with which a reader can process your text. Most people skim LinkedIn on mobile, which means short attention, tiny screens, and fast decisions to stop or keep scrolling. Clear writing reduces friction, helps your point land, and usually increases time on post, clicks, and responses.

When readability matters the most

• How to posts, step by step threads, or tutorials
• Announcements and launches where the first two lines must hook
• Job or hiring posts that need instant clarity
• Technical topics written for mixed audiences
• Longer stories that need structure so people do not bounce

What is a good score for LinkedIn

• Flesch Reading Ease

Target 60 to 80 (higher is easier)

• Gunning Fog

Target 8 to 12 (lower is easier, shows school grade)

• SMOG

Target 7 to 11 (lower is easier, shows grade)

• Coleman Liau

Target 8 to 12 (lower is easier, shows grade)

• ARI

Target 7 to 11 (lower is easier, shows grade)

These are practical ranges for social posts, not rigid rules. Very short texts can score strangely because one long word or one missing period can swing the math.

Limitations you should know

• Scores are estimates

Algorithms were built for longer prose, not 2 line hooks.

• Emojis, URLs, and brand names can distort counts

The tool tries to handle this, but edge cases exist.

• Language mixing can confuse syllable rules

If you write in Spanish or Swedish, the English syllable model is only an approximation.

• Lists and fragments are common on LinkedIn

That improves scanning for humans, but some formulas expect full sentences.

Readability Algorithms Explained

• Flesch Reading Ease

Score from 0 to 100. Higher is easier. Based on average sentence length and syllables per word.

Best for: quick benchmarking of short posts. Watch out: unusual punctuation can inflate sentence length.

• Gunning Fog Index

Estimates years of formal education needed. Lower is easier. Uses sentence length and percent of complex words (3 or more syllables, with some exceptions).

Best for: spotting jargon and polysyllables. Watch out: short samples can look harsher than they read.

• SMOG Index

Grade level based on polysyllables. Designed for short texts like notices and posts, but it still prefers several sentences for stability.

Best for: quick grade check. Watch out: one proper noun with many syllables can spike the result.

• Coleman Liau Index

Grade level that uses characters per word and sentences per word. No syllables involved, which makes it fast and consistent for digital text.

Best for: clean copy without heavy punctuation. Watch out: all caps, acronyms, or long product names can nudge counts.

• Automated Readability Index (ARI)

Grade level that uses characters per word and words per sentence, similar to Coleman Liau, with simple math that works well on short posts.

Best for: quick comparisons across drafts. Watch out: long compound words and concatenated hashtags can push the score up.

How To Improve Readability Quickly

Structure and layout

• Use short paragraphs, 1 to 3 lines each.
• Add white space between ideas. Hard line breaks help on mobile.
• Use bullets for lists. Prefer 3 to 6 items.
• Front load the key point in the first two lines so it shows before the fold.

Sentences and words

• Keep average sentence length near 14 to 18 words.
• Prefer common words over long synonyms. Write buy, not purchase. Write use, not utilize.
• Cut filler words that add no meaning. For example, basically, actually, very.
• Replace stacked clauses with two shorter sentences.

Tone and clarity

• Write in active voice when you can. It is clearer and shorter.
• Address the reader with you. Direct language improves engagement.
• Define acronyms the first time if they are not widely known.

Formatting details

• Use numerals for data and dates. 7 tips reads faster than seven tips.
• Use bold sparingly for keywords, not whole sentences.
• Hashtags go at the end or grouped, not between sentences.
• Emojis can guide the eye. Keep them minimal and consistent with tone.

Checks before posting

• Add the missing period if a sentence looks unfinished. Scores depend on punctuation.
• Scan on a phone. If you need to pinch or reread, simplify again.
• Rerun the score after edits. Small edits can change the metrics.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is this tool 100% free?

Yes. The Post Readability Score Optimizer is free to use.

• Which algorithm should I use?

Start with Flesch. If your audience is technical, also check Fog or SMOG to see how complex words affect the grade.

• What text length is reliable?

Above 80 to 120 words is more stable. Scores on very short hooks can swing a lot with a single word or period.

• How are emojis, URLs, and bullets handled?

They are ignored for word counts when possible. Bullets and fragments are common on LinkedIn, which is fine for readers, but any algorithm can react to punctuation changes.

• Why do different algorithms disagree?

Each one weighs different signals. Some use syllables, others use characters per word. Look for direction, not an absolute value.

• Will a higher score guarantee better performance?

No. It only removes friction. Topic, timing, and creative angle still matter.

• Does language matter?

Yes. These formulas were made for English. For posts in other languages the score is an approximation.