Tired of articles returned or suggestions ignored? Could be a matter of complexity. Ease up on the multi-syllable words. Chop those run-amok sentences down to size. It seems the average person reads at a 9th grade level. Most people seem comfortable 2 grades below that for leisure reading.

One formula for readability is to find a typical passage you have written of 150 words. Count the number of one-syllable words. Divide that number by 10 and subtract the result from 20. 50 one-syllable words would be grade 15, or college Junior level. 100 one syllable words would be 10th grade level. Another remedy is aiming for 150 syllables in a 100-word passage that has about 17 words per sentence.

For things to be read aloud, a Listening Index suggests 12 or fewer syllables above one per word in every sentence. The Empathy Index says to subtract first person references (I, we, me, mine) from second person references (you, your, yours). There should be more "you's" than "I's" or the writing will appear self-centered.