BYTETOOLS

Linsear Write Formula Calculator

Calculate the Linsear Write score of any text and see the US grade level, the easy and hard word counts and every step of the arithmetic. Free and instant.

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Linsear Write score
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Words scored
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Sentences in sample
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Easy words (1–2 syllables)
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Hard words (3+ syllables)
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Total points

Paste at least one full sentence to see the Linsear Write grade level.

Syllables are counted with a written-English heuristic (vowel groups, silent “e”, common suffixes), not a pronunciation dictionary, so an unusual word or a name can be off by one.

What is the Linsear Write Formula Calculator?

The Linsear Write formula was developed for United States Air Force technical manuals, and it is still one of the fastest ways to check whether a procedure, policy or instruction sheet reads at the level you intended.

  • Full Linsear Write procedure with both branches of the final adjustment
  • Step-by-step arithmetic printed under the score
  • Every word tagged with its syllable count, easy or hard
  • Score a 100-word sample or the entire document
  • Live recalculation as you edit the text
  • Runs entirely offline — nothing is uploaded

How to use the Linsear Write Formula Calculator

  1. 1

    Paste your text into the input box.

  2. 2

    Choose whether to score the first 100 words (the classic procedure) or the whole text.

  3. 3

    Read the Linsear Write score and the grade band it maps to.

  4. 4

    Follow the six numbered steps to see exactly how the score was calculated.

  5. 5

    Scan the word chips — amber words are the three-syllable words costing you three points each.

About the Linsear Write Formula Calculator

The Linsear Write formula was developed for United States Air Force technical manuals, and it is still one of the fastest ways to check whether a procedure, policy or instruction sheet reads at the level you intended. This calculator scores your text, shows the grade level it maps to, and prints the arithmetic line by line so you can see exactly where the number came from.

It follows the published procedure: every word of two syllables or fewer scores 1 point, every word of three or more syllables scores 3 points, the total is divided by the number of sentences, and the result is halved — minus one more if it came out at 20 or below. You can score the classic 100-word sample or the whole document, and each word is shown with its syllable count so nothing is hidden.

Everything is calculated locally in your browser with JavaScript. Your draft is never uploaded, so unpublished manuals, contracts and internal documentation are safe to paste, and the tool keeps working offline once the page has loaded.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good Linsear Write score?

The score is a US school grade level, so 8 means an eighth-grader should manage it on first reading. Plain-language guidance for public instructions usually targets 6 to 8, while internal technical documentation commonly sits between 10 and 14.

How is the Linsear Write formula calculated?

Take a 100-word sample. Give every word of two syllables or fewer 1 point and every word of three or more syllables 3 points, then divide the total by the number of sentences. If that result is over 20, halve it; if it is 20 or less, halve it and subtract 1.

Why does Linsear Write use a 100-word sample?

It was designed as a pencil-and-paper check that a technical writer could do in a couple of minutes, and 100 words was the largest sample that stayed practical. Because the formula is a ratio, scoring a longer passage gives a very similar answer, which is why this tool offers both.

How accurate is the syllable counting?

Syllables are counted with a written-English heuristic — vowel groups adjusted for silent “e” and common suffixes — not a pronunciation dictionary. It agrees with dictionaries for the great majority of everyday words, but a name or an unusual loanword can be off by one.

How does Linsear Write differ from Gunning Fog?

Both punish long sentences and multi-syllable words, but Gunning Fog excludes proper nouns and words that only reach three syllables through -es, -ed or -ing endings, while Linsear Write counts every word. Linsear Write also weights hard words three times rather than as a percentage.

Is my text uploaded anywhere?

No. The scoring runs entirely in your browser with JavaScript, so nothing you paste leaves your device. You can safely check confidential drafts, and the page continues to work with no network connection.

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