- Coleman-Liau Index
The Coleman-Liau Index is a
readability test designed byMeri Coleman andT. L. Liau to gauge the understandability of a text. Like theFlesch-Kincaid Grade Level,Gunning-Fog Index ,SMOG Index , andAutomated Readability Index , its output approximates the U.S. grade level thought necessary to comprehend the text.Like the ARI but unlike most of the other indices, Coleman-Liau relies on characters instead of syllables per word. Although opinion varies on its accuracy as compared to the syllable/word and complex word indices, characters are more readily and accurately counted by computer programs than are syllables.
Formula
To calculate the Coleman-Liau Index:
# Divide the number of characters by the number of words, and multiply by 5.89. Call this "A".
# Take the number of sentences in a fragment of 100 words, and multiply by 0.3. Call this "B".
# Subtract "B" from "A" and subtract 15.8::
References
* Coleman, M.; and Liau, T. L. (1975); "A computer readability formula designed for machine scoring", Journal of Applied Psychology, Vol. 60, pp. 283-284
External links
* [http://www.online-utility.org/english/readability_test_and_improve.jsp Online readability tests] - finds Coleman-Liau and other indices, suggestions how to improve readability
* [http://www.editcentral.com Readability calculators] - six readability statisticsee also
*
Automated Readability Index
*Bormuth index
*Coke-Rothkopf index
*Dale-Chall index
*Flesch-Kincaid Readability Test
*Gunning fog index
*Readability
*SMOG Index
*Zipf's law
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