1. What is the SMOG Readability Formula?

The SMOG (Simple Measure of Gobbledygook) formula estimates the years of education needed to understand a piece of writing. It's widely used in healthcare and other fields to assess the readability of texts.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the SMOG formula:

Where:

• Polysyllabic words — Words with 3 or more syllables
• 30 sentences — Standard sample size for SMOG calculation

Explanation: The formula assumes that text difficulty is primarily determined by the number of complex (polysyllabic) words.

3. Importance of Readability Scores

Details: Readability scores help ensure written materials match the audience's reading level, which is crucial for effective communication in healthcare, education, and public information.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Count the number of polysyllabic words (3+ syllables) in a 30-sentence sample of your text and enter the total count.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is considered a good SMOG score?
A: For general public materials, aim for ≤8 (8th grade level). For healthcare, ≤6 is often recommended.

Q2: How do I count polysyllabic words?
A: Count words with 3 or more syllables (e.g., "calculator" = 4 syllables).

Q3: Why use 30 sentences?
A: This standard sample size provides reliable results while being practical to analyze.

Q4: Are there limitations to SMOG?
A: SMOG tends to overestimate difficulty for technical terms familiar to the audience and doesn't account for sentence structure complexity.

Q5: What other readability formulas exist?
A: Common alternatives include Flesch-Kincaid, Fry Graph, and Gunning Fog index.