Readability means your content is easily understandable to your audience. Implementing readability best practices will help you make your web content more compelling. Readability looks at the complexity of words on the page and sentence structure.
Reduce Your Words
Use as few words as possible to communicate. We often use fillers in conversation. Avoiding fillers on the web will add clarity to your writing and make it more powerful.
Adapting Filler Words
These words can usually be removed from your sentences without changing it's meaning.
Common filler words to avoid
| Common Filler Word |
Conversational Use |
Adapted For Web |
| that |
I wish that the sun was out. |
I wish the sun was out. |
| just |
I just want the sun to come out. |
I want the sun to come out. |
| very |
The sun is very hot. |
The sun is hot. |
| really |
I really don't understand why the sun won't come out. |
Why won't the sun come out? |
| totally |
I will totally go outside when the sun is out. |
I will go outside when the sun is out. |
| quiet |
The sun feels quiet nice today. |
The sun feels nice today. |
| actually |
If the sun actually comes out, I will go outside. |
If the sun comes out, I will go outside. |
| commonly |
People commonly feel it is a nice day when the sun is out. |
People feel it is a nice day when it's sunny. |
| please, thank you, and other polite words |
Will you please tell me when the sun is out? |
Will you tell me when the sun is out? |
Adapting Filler Phrases
These phrases have shorter alternatives that mean the same thing or can be avoided because they do not add meaning to your sentence:
Common filler phrases to avoid.
| Common Filler Phrases |
Adapted for Web |
| Due to the fact |
Because |
| All of the |
All the |
| As to whether |
Whether |
| At all times |
Avoid use |
| In the event that |
If |
| In order to |
To |
| It is important to note / Note that |
Avoid use |
| With regards to |
Regarding |
Use Simple Sentences
A sentence on the web should contain one thought. On occasion, a simple sentence can include two connected thoughts.
Break Up Your Paragraphs
As a guide, paragraphs on a website should include one or two sentences. Having too many sentences in a paragraph makes information harder to find.
Use Lists
If you use more than three commas to list things in a sentence, use a bulleted list instead. Lists are easier to scan for information.
Avoid compound lists. These are lists within a list or sub-bullets. Compound lists can be confusing, particularly for non-visual users and those navigating with assistive technologies. Instead, consider breaking complicated lists into separate sections with formatted headings.
Get Rid of Exformation
Exformation is content your audience doesn't need to know or already knows. Exformation does not need to be mentioned or included in your web content.
Avoid Complicated Words
Use simple language and terms that are common knowledge to your audience.
Write in Active Voice
Passive voice is when you make the action of your sentence the subject. People write in passive voice to sound professional. In reality, passive voice is harder to read and understand. It should only be used when it serves a purpose.
Write in active voice to make your content strong and readable.
Passive voice example: The research paper was written by Professor X.
Active voice example: Professor X wrote the research paper.
Use Strong Verbs
Don't turn your verb into a noun. Like fillers, this adds length to your sentence with unnecessary words.
Weak to Strong Verb Examples:
- Make a decision - Decide
- Conduct a survey - Survey
- Do a review - Review
- Perform a test - Test