The Automated Readability Index (ARI) is a readability test designed to gauge the understandability of a text. Like the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, Gunning-Fog Index, SMOG Index, and Coleman-Liau Index, its output is an approximate representation of the U.S. grade level needed to comprehend the text.
Unlike the other indices, the ARI, along with the Coleman-Liau, relies on a factor of characters per word, instead of the usual syllables per word. Although opinion varies on its accuracy as compared to the syllables/word and complex words indices, characters/word is often easier to calculate, as the number of characters is more readily and accurately counted by computer programs than syllables.
Formula
To calculate the Automated Readability Index:
- Divide the number of characters by the number of words, and multiply by 4.71. This is #1.
- Divide the number of words by the number of sentences, and multiply by 0.5. This is #2.
- Add #1 and #2 together, and subtract 21.43.
ARI = (4.71 * characters/word) + (0.5 * words/sentence) - 21.43
Dedicated ARI Software
Readability Studio
Readability Studio offers the ARI test, as well as many others.
External links
- Online readability tests - finds ARI and other indexes, suggestions how to improve readability