Flesch readability statistics in Word 2002 may differ from Flesch readability statistics in Word 2000

The Flesch Reading Ease statistics for text written with Microsoft Word 2002 may return a lower value for identical text written with Microsoft Word 2000.

For example in Word 2000, the following sentences return a Flesch Reading Ease value of 94.5.

In Word 2002 the same sentence returns a value of 82.4.

In other examples:

• The sentence
  There are two arguments against this plan: 1. It is too expensive. 2. It is impractical.
  returns a value of 72.0 in Word 2000, and a value of 50.6 in Word 2002.
• The sentence
  This project is supposed to: (a) provide training; (b) stimulate suggestions.
  returns a value of 55.1 in Word 2000, and a value of 62.8 in Word 2002.
• The sentence
  You need to bring $365.56.
  returns a value of 32.5 in Word 2000, and a value of 15.6 in Word 2002.
• The sentence
  The Encarta Manual of Style and Usage 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
  returns a value of 31.0 in Word 2000, and a value of 24.5 in Word 2002.

The differences in the Flesch Reading Ease statistics is because Word 2002 more accurately calculates the reading ease values. Additional rules that Word 2002 uses to evaluate reading ease and their effects are summed up in this section of the article.

Fragments

A sentence followed by a fragment. (A semicolon is treated the same, and has no effect on the statistics.) No effect: The minister talked about something; Sin.

Money

The dollar sign has a small effect and the decimal following it has an even greater effect. No effect: You need to bring five dollars.

Symbols

Symbols such as registered trademark and copyright symbols are now counted and affect the reading ease values.

Bullets

Bullets are treated in different ways and have differing effects.

• Numbered bullets with parentheses remain the same:
  This project is supposed to: (1) provide training; (2) stimulate suggestions.
  This project is supposed to: 1) provide training; 2) stimulate suggestions.
• Numbered bullets with periods lower Reading Ease and raise Grade Level:
  This project is supposed to: 1. provide training; 2. stimulate suggestions.
• Lettered bullets, in uppercase or lowercase and parentheses or a period, raise Reading Ease and lower Grade Level:
  This project is supposed to: (a) provide training; (b) stimulate suggestions.
  This project is supposed to: a) provide training; b) stimulate suggestions.
  This project is supposed to: a. provide training; b. stimulate suggestions.
  This project is supposed to: (A) provide training; (B) stimulate suggestions.
  This project is supposed to: A) provide training; B) stimulate suggestions.
  This project is supposed to: A. provide training; B. stimulate suggestions.