Comments on: 6 Tips for Writing for Web Readers

By: Ted Flanderman

Ted Flanderman — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 14:34:39 +0000

You know, this article makes sense, but I’ve seen successful blogs with long, unbroken posts, and with short, sentence length paragraphs. The bottom line is, write for your readers and you won’t go wrong.

By: Michael (MKR)

Michael (MKR) — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 00:31:53 +0000

“Write at an 8th grade level” is not meant to be condescending. I was reading at a college level at 7, and have no trouble working through dense, precise text.

But it’s really boring, and I won’t unless I can’t get that info somewhere else.

Even if you have a graduate school level vocabulary, you need to be judicious in its implementation.

(See what I did there?)

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 27 May 2010 23:12:43 +0000

I am amazed at how many amazing writers there and and also how many writers have no idea how to write. The spectrum is very large. Excellent article!

By: Eric C

Eric C — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 02:13:02 +0000

My writing, according to the computers that measure, tends to be at the 10th grade level.

I guess I just wonder why everyone doesn’t aspire to higher level writing? I love the New York Times, the New Yorker. Hemingway, though he had simple prose, wrote above an eigth grade level. His word choice, especially in some books, is very advanced. I don’t know, maybe I’m just sad about the literate world in general.

@ Daniel – I sent in that guets post and I never heard from you, hit me back.

By: Lisa R

Lisa R — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 12:35:10 +0000

I think there is some misunderstanding on what an 8th grade writing / reading level is. Most newspapers are written on a 6th or 7th grade level with the exception of The New York Times which may be 12th grade level. Most of the posts written here are about 6th, 7th or 8th grade level.
An 8th grade writing level would be clear, concise, well written, well punctuated, no spelling or gramatical errors and have clear coherent paragraph development and good flow from one idea to the next. An 8th grade level would be decent writing considering that a lot of people blogging seem to intentionally use incorrect grammar, poor spelling and no punctuation in order to appear cool to the new texting lingo that is so common with our younger people.
An 8th grade writing level is quite respectable and can even challenge you socially, politically or spiritually. Many novels are written on this level. Look at Hemingway’s writing….very easy to read, clear, yet powerful and inspiring. An extremely wise and even profound statement can be made on lower writing level. “Where ever we go, there we are.”