I'm looking for articles on readibility that talk about what makes
something more readibable. (Like shorter sentence length, smaller
words, etc.) I know about the fog index but wondered if anything has
been written besides Robert Gunning's book on this. I'm saying 15$ for
this answer, but if you find a lot of information, I will happily pay
more.

Hi Bluebean~

Actually, despite the fact that most people think "Fog" when they
think "readability," the most commonly used readability tool is
Microsoft Word's grammar checker. (Found under the Tools menu.) This
doesn't use the Fog Index, but, according to a website by the
University of Minnesota, "uses three Flesch tools to analyze style."
(This helpful university website can be found
at:http://www.fpd.finop.umn.edu/groups/ppd/documents/information/writing_tips.cfm)

These Flesch tools are, according to the site:

"1. Flesch Reading Ease (100 = easiest, 70-80 = average)

2. Flesch Grade Level (Assigns a grade level reader must have to
understand your writing, 6 = average)

3. Flesch Kincaid (Another formula for determining reader grade
level)"

Here's one site that explains the Flesch index:
://www.google.com/search?q=cache:cRZIJH6XJecC:developer.gnome.org/documents/style-guide/usability-readability.html+%22fog+index%22+&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

In general terms, the Flesch index determines the reading level of
writing based upon the number of syllables per word, and words per
sentence. It is generally considered more accurate than the Fog index.
	
Here's another helpful site on the Flesch-Kincaid system:
http://www.usingenglish.com/glossary/flesch-kincaid-index.html


There's also the Cohen Cloudiness Count, which is described on this
site:
http://www.scamfreezone.com/forum/config.cgi?read=789

The idea behind this one is to determine clarity, "based on the number
of passive constructions and abstract words that are used."
	

Another fairly common readability tool is the SMOG Index. This is a
easier-to-use version of the Fog Index. For more information on this,
go to:
://www.google.com/search?q=cache:y36KphlscxAC:oc.nci.nih.gov/services/HCPW/APPEN.HTM+%22smog+index%22+readability+-emission*&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
	

For a less mathematical approach, this university site offers great
guidelines:
http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/j/t/jth/simplifying.html

As this site so aptly points out: "All the formulas (Fog Index, Smog
Index, Dale/Chall index etc.) deal with sentence length and the number
of syllables, but not with the coherence of paragraph structure, for
instance. Nor do they really account for technical jargon and for the
fact that a specialist audience can follow the long technical words
with little or no difficulty." So, there's no substitute for good old
common sense when it comes to readability, either :)
	

Here's a good website covering the basics of readability that you may
find helpful:
http://www.tasc.ac.uk/sdev1/drobis/profcom/fog.htm

This Google cache page also explains the differences between Flesch's
index and Gunnings':
://www.google.com/search?q=cache:re2B65R_oZEC:www.tasc.ac.uk/depart/media/staff/ls/Modules/MED1140/Fog.htm+%22fog+index%22+&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

Here is a good site on readability in professional publications:
http://www.kotesol.org/readability.htm

This site gives great tips on formatting grammar checkers, plus other
helpful readability ideas:
http://www.psassociates.com/fog99-prn.htm

Here's a good Google cached page on re-writing with readability in
mind:
://www.google.com/search?q=cache:jS2GwEHNplUC:www.mgt.smsu.edu/SyllabiPDF-F02/lambert-ch6-10notes-f02.PDF+readability+fog&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

Of course, no discussion on readability is complete without at least
mentioning the book "Elements of Style." This classic reference is
easy to follow, and an industry standard. This slim volume is
available at any good bookstore; to see it's Amazon.com listing, to
here:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/020530902X/qid=1036001110/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/002-8991896-2384805?v=glance&n=507846



Keywords Used:
"fog index"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%22fog+index%22+&btnG=Google+Search

"Flesch-Kincaid index" 
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%22Flesch-Kincaid+index%22+&btnG=Google+Search

"Flesch index"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%22Flesch+index%22+&btnG=Google+Search

"smog index" readability -emission
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%22smog+index%22+readability+-emission*&btnG=Google+Search

"Cohen cloudiness count"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%22Cohen+cloudiness+count%22

Hope this helps!
kriswrite

I know about the Flesch-Kincaid measure but had never heard of the
Cohen Cloudiness (love that name!) or the other systems. I've hunted
and hunted for this information and these kinds of sites and come up
with looonnng lists of sites that went in every different direction
except the ones I was looking for. This info is right on target. So
this is just excellent!

Please make sure your spelling and typing are correct, too.
"readibility"? "readibable"?  You can write the most eloquent,
readable prose in the world, and then immediately devalue it with
simple spelling mistakes.