Hmm… So this implies that if a fun, entertaining little “analysis” on the Internet based on some obscure and unknown algorithm of calculation determines your blog to be less than genius, the blogger is creating dumb content for dumb customers.

That’s a beautiful, sweeping assumption.

Because a writer chooses simple words out of preference or because he feels no need to pull out a thesaurus on five-syllable words does NOT mean that the writer is dumb, the readers are dumb or that the writer is specifically lowering himself and his intelligence to speak to dumb people.

I’m happy for you that you feel proud to be awarded the “genius” level by a site that really shouldn’t be taken seriously. I really don’t give much of a damn about game sites like that or what people say because no one has to pull out a dictionary to read my blog.

Quality isn’t a measure of how lofty or complex your content can be.

Thanks for the link.

You might want to read my post again. I explained pretty clearly that writing with simplicity and clarity can expand your audience, and that there are times when more complex language is appropriate. Nowhere did I suggest a writer should dumb herself down.

As James mentioned, the gadget that determines your site’s reading level is just a silly toy, which I used as a conversation starter. I doubt its estimations are truly accurate. In fact, I’m almost positive they are not.

This is an important issue for writers to consider. I’m glad it’s being discussed.

Melissa Donovan
Writing Forward