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| Friday, May 16, 2008 |
| Blog Readability: How Readable is Your Blog? |
I was happily blog hopping this morning and as I did my routed hopping, I found this rather interesting blog post from Mommy Ruby. She had come across a website that determines the reading level of one's blog, and she achieved the score of a Genius Level [Congratulations, Mommy Ruby! :)].
Although I was already familiar with this test, I could not remember what my grade was, so I tried to figure it out. As it turns out, both my main blogs have the readability score of Elementary Level! On the other hand, my secondary blogs scored a good High School Level. I was appalled of course! But then again, perhaps it was right, or probably not. Either way, it nagged me from start to end, and I almost gave up blogging totally.
Another question arrived as I contemplated on taking my blog off cyberspace: "What is the best readability for blogs?" That way, perhaps I could still improve my blog. God knows how I'm already ashamed to think of the level I gained. But it posted as a challenge, and so I researched.
From my treks through the Internet I found a couple of things that determines correct readability. It started from another test called TxReadability. From then on, I learned the importance of readability and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (draft version).
Just in case some of you have no idea what the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is, please allow me to explain. The WCAG 2.0 provides recommendations for making content accessible, and helps make content accessible to a range of people who have disabilities. In addition to this, these guidelines will also often help make one's Web content be more usable to users in general.
WCAG 2.0 tackles readability through Guideline 3.1 - "Make text content readable and understandable." The outcome of TxReadability should help determine if the content in your website/blog has met the success criterion on readability. Success Criterion 3.1.5 states that, "When text requires reading ability more advanced than the lower secondary education level, supplemental content, or a version that does not require reading ability more advanced than the lower secondary education level, is available."
After taking the test, I came out with a Forecast Score just in the lower secondary level. Which is great. In fact, it provided a salve to my wounded soul (ego). Though undeniably, my blogs are still in the Elementary Level, I am happy at the very LEAST that it still passes Success Criterion 3.1.5. Which means that my rather basic style of writing still helps people! ;) Yipee!
It still comes down to one thing, though, would you rather have a blog at a high level? Or something basic that others can understand? For me, what I would give to be able to write for great minds... But, I think I'm good.
What about you? How did you fare?
 Labels: blogging, blogs, improvement, personal matters, readability, reading, TxReadability, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 |
| posted by Ann @ 3:30 PM
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| 2 Comments: |
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I got a low one on my coffee cup blog and a genius on my deranged blog...
i think it bases its calculations on the number of posts you've written...
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ic..
no, i dont think its because of the number of posts you have. because a) my pencilpushin has almost 400 posts, and neverdainty has almost the same number of posts your coffeecup has..
the scores are determined by the words you use, i.e., 3 syllables, 2 syllables, etc.
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Name: Ann
Home: Philippines
About Me: even when she has fairy wings on, this girl is anything BUT dainty. perhaps the size, the weight, and the personality alone are just too much for her to be considered delicate, prim, proper, and refined. this girl with the mud smudged cheeks has been down on the ground one to many times. these times forced her to be tougher, smarter, and more savvy than she has ever been. perhaps she will always be, never dainty.
email me: neverdainty [at] gmail [dot] com
See my complete profile
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I got a low one on my coffee cup blog and a genius on my deranged blog...
i think it bases its calculations on the number of posts you've written...