Junior High Reading Level
November 20, 2007 11:41 AM Subscribe
Blog Readability Test A lot of blogs have been measuring the reading level of their blog with this test lately. A few of my favorites: Metafilter - Junior High School. AskMe - High School. MetaChat - Elementary School (ouch!). RobotWisdom - Genius. Of course, this is not the sole such test.
This post was deleted for the following reason: Ack! Site at main link generates payday-loan site linkspam badges. That's pretty slimy stuff. -- cortex
It's not clear to me that having a low reading level is a bad thing. If you are explaining complex topics, wouldn't simple, clear and direct be the way to go?
posted by DU at 11:49 AM on November 20, 2007
posted by DU at 11:49 AM on November 20, 2007
Nasreddin's blog is also "genius". It's even smarter than Language Log, which is merely "postgrad".
posted by creasy boy at 11:52 AM on November 20, 2007
posted by creasy boy at 11:52 AM on November 20, 2007
This thing seems pretty worthless since they don't bother to tell you what their criteria are.
posted by octothorpe at 11:53 AM on November 20, 2007
posted by octothorpe at 11:53 AM on November 20, 2007
I'd be accused of exaggerating the idiocy of supernaturalism if I didn't link to proof.
posted by DU at 11:57 AM on November 20, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by DU at 11:57 AM on November 20, 2007 [1 favorite]
This site would be better with an explanation of what "genius" (for instance) actually means. My blog is apparently genius level, which is odd for lots of links plus occasional moans about eurosceptics and Exeter City FC.
posted by athenian at 11:59 AM on November 20, 2007
posted by athenian at 11:59 AM on November 20, 2007
My blog uses the words "fuck" and "shit" at an elementary school level.
Yay.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 12:04 PM on November 20, 2007
Yay.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 12:04 PM on November 20, 2007
flickfilosopher.com = Genius
I can accept that.
dansdata.com = Elementary School
Nope, we have a failure.
Though I agree with octothorpe, no criteria means that I can't really care too much one way or another.
posted by quin at 12:05 PM on November 20, 2007
I can accept that.
dansdata.com = Elementary School
Nope, we have a failure.
Though I agree with octothorpe, no criteria means that I can't really care too much one way or another.
posted by quin at 12:05 PM on November 20, 2007
My personal blog is high school level, while the two I maintain for my high school classes are elementary level. Hm.
posted by absalom at 12:06 PM on November 20, 2007
posted by absalom at 12:06 PM on November 20, 2007
I like how the badge code takes would be victims to a cash-advance loan scheme site. Classy, real classy.
posted by togdon at 12:10 PM on November 20, 2007
posted by togdon at 12:10 PM on November 20, 2007
Sorry, a cash-advance loan scheme site that's served off the same network block, so this is essentially a great way to get people to their cash-advance loan scheme site.
Gotta love viral marketing.
posted by togdon at 12:13 PM on November 20, 2007 [1 favorite]
Gotta love viral marketing.
posted by togdon at 12:13 PM on November 20, 2007 [1 favorite]
null terminated: "google.com - genius"
I was willing to give it the benefit of the doubt until I saw that. Yes, Google does some genius things. But the reading level of the home page? There's maybe twenty unique words on that page, and half of them aren't even real words. Gmail? iGoogle? That's not genius, that's delirious mumbletalk.
posted by Plutor at 12:14 PM on November 20, 2007
I was willing to give it the benefit of the doubt until I saw that. Yes, Google does some genius things. But the reading level of the home page? There's maybe twenty unique words on that page, and half of them aren't even real words. Gmail? iGoogle? That's not genius, that's delirious mumbletalk.
posted by Plutor at 12:14 PM on November 20, 2007
togdon: "Sorry, a cash-advance loan scheme site that's served off the same network block, so this is essentially a great way to get people to their cash-advance loan scheme site."
Ooh, good spot. The "put this badge on your website" snippet contains a link to the cash advance thing, too. This is probably an attempt at manufacturing a Google Bomb.
posted by Plutor at 12:16 PM on November 20, 2007
Ooh, good spot. The "put this badge on your website" snippet contains a link to the cash advance thing, too. This is probably an attempt at manufacturing a Google Bomb.
posted by Plutor at 12:16 PM on November 20, 2007
There's something wrong with the test:
littlegreenfootballs.com = College (undergrad)
posted by jefbla at 12:16 PM on November 20, 2007
littlegreenfootballs.com = College (undergrad)
posted by jefbla at 12:16 PM on November 20, 2007
This site gives MF the grade of Readability Level:5th Grade, while my profile page here gets a Readability Level:Advanced Degree (PhD).
posted by iconomy at 12:20 PM on November 20, 2007
posted by iconomy at 12:20 PM on November 20, 2007
My profile page also gets Readability Level : Advanced Degree (PhD), and I don't have anything on my profile page. It gives itself a readability level of 9th grade.
posted by Pastabagel at 12:28 PM on November 20, 2007
posted by Pastabagel at 12:28 PM on November 20, 2007
Mine got the elementary school rating but I think I should get extra points for not misspelling every other word (I'm sure I get knocked for resorting to swearing too often though).
Some explanation of the results would be nice since I just feel mildly insulted.
Oddly enough though, my elementary school level blog is blocked at the elementary school where I work.
posted by fenriq at 12:30 PM on November 20, 2007
Some explanation of the results would be nice since I just feel mildly insulted.
Oddly enough though, my elementary school level blog is blocked at the elementary school where I work.
posted by fenriq at 12:30 PM on November 20, 2007
Nasreddin's blog is also "genius". It's even smarter than Language Log, which is merely "postgrad".
I'm flattered that someone bothered to check, but I imagine that's due to the fact that posts are half quotes from much smarter and better writers.
posted by nasreddin at 12:34 PM on November 20, 2007
I'm flattered that someone bothered to check, but I imagine that's due to the fact that posts are half quotes from much smarter and better writers.
posted by nasreddin at 12:34 PM on November 20, 2007
iconomy, your linked site is really nice, they explain what's going on and ways to improve. Which is exactly what I want to do, improve!
posted by fenriq at 12:36 PM on November 20, 2007
posted by fenriq at 12:36 PM on November 20, 2007
If only I hadn't said "fucktard" so many times in 2006, perhaps we'd have received a better rating.
posted by Mister_A at 12:41 PM on November 20, 2007
posted by Mister_A at 12:41 PM on November 20, 2007
www.metafilter.com/user/40584 = Genius!!!11!11
Eat it fucktards!!!
posted by Mister_A at 12:43 PM on November 20, 2007
Eat it fucktards!!!
posted by Mister_A at 12:43 PM on November 20, 2007
Let's put in a bunch of fancy Latin words, just to see what'll happen to our rating in this thread.
I'll go first: Mojito!
posted by Mister_A at 12:55 PM on November 20, 2007
I'll go first: Mojito!
posted by Mister_A at 12:55 PM on November 20, 2007
I used to run readability tests on textbooks at my last job, and a large part of the calculation is based on how long the sentences are. Which might explain LGF's rating, what with the runon rants and such.
Or maybe I'm just bitter because it rated my blog as Elementary School. I ought to bite their ears off at recess.
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 1:10 PM on November 20, 2007
Or maybe I'm just bitter because it rated my blog as Elementary School. I ought to bite their ears off at recess.
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 1:10 PM on November 20, 2007
I was going to be insulted that my blog came out as "Undergrad", but after reading this thread I think I'll take it as a compliment.
posted by briank at 1:18 PM on November 20, 2007
posted by briank at 1:18 PM on November 20, 2007
What we really need to increase the grade of this thread are some run-on sentences with words of three syllables or more, circumambulate is a good word, some more are psychopharmacologist, immunization, monocalcium phosphate, abortifacient, iridology, circumcision, and transmogrify.
posted by arcticwoman at 1:27 PM on November 20, 2007
posted by arcticwoman at 1:27 PM on November 20, 2007
Nice job arcticwoman, the thread is now - High School
I wonder what Joyce would do to the score?
I wonder what Joyce would do to the score?
The fashionable international world attended EN MASSE this afternoon at the wedding of the chevalier Jean Wyse de Neaulan, grand high chief ranger of the Irish National Foresters, with Miss Fir Conifer of Pine Valley. Lady Sylvester Elmshade, Mrs Barbara Lovebirch, Mrs Poll Ash, Mrs Holly Hazeleyes, Miss Daphne Bays, Miss Dorothy Canebrake, Mrs Clyde Twelvetrees, Mrs Rowan Greene, Mrs Helen Vinegadding, Miss Virginia Creeper, Miss Gladys Beech, Miss Olive Garth, Miss Blanche Maple, Mrs Maud Mahogany, Miss Myra Myrtle, Miss Priscilla Elderflower, Miss Bee Honeysuckle, Miss Grace Poplar, Miss O Mimosa San, Miss Rachel Cedarfrond, the Misses Lilian and Viola Lilac, Miss Timidity Aspenall, Mrs Kitty Dewey-Mosse, Miss May Hawthorne, Mrs Gloriana Palme, Mrs Liana Forrest, Mrs Arabella Blackwood and Mrs Norma Holyoake of Oakholme Regis graced the ceremony by their presence. The bride who was given away by her father, the M'Conifer of the Glands, looked exquisitely charming in a creation carried out in green mercerised silk, moulded on an underslip of gloaming grey, sashed with a yoke of broad emerald and finished with a triple flounce of darkerhued fringe, the scheme being relieved by bretelles and hip insertions of acorn bronze. The maids of honour, Miss Larch Conifer and Miss Spruce Conifer, sisters of the bride, wore very becoming costumes in the same tone, a dainty MOTIF of plume rose being worked into the pleats in a pinstripe and repeated capriciously in the jadegreen toques in the form of heron feathers of paletinted coral. Senhor Enrique Flor presided at the organ with his wellknown ability and, in addition to the prescribed numbers of the nuptial mass, played a new and striking arrangement of WOODMAN, SPARE THAT TREE at the conclusion of the service. On leaving the church of Saint Fiacre IN HORTO after the papal blessing the happy pair were subjected to a playful crossfire of hazelnuts, beechmast, bayleaves, catkins of willow, ivytod, hollyberries, mistletoe sprigs and quicken shoots. Mr and Mrs Wyse Conifer Neaulan will spend a quiet honeymoon in the Black Forest.posted by caddis at 1:48 PM on November 20, 2007
um, I know this is a lot of fun, but there should be at least one post--this one--pointing out the utter ridiculousness of readability measures and the extent to which they have been pounded by critics in linguistics, psycholinguistics, education, etc. There are a lot of problems but the general one is that the formulas are easily tricked, because they favor shorter sentences, which are often harder to understand than a longer version:
The horse raced past the barn fell. scores higher than
The horse that raced past the barn fell.
The boy the girl liked left. scores higher than
The boy who the girl liked left.
and so on.
Besides, Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.
posted by cogneuro at 1:49 PM on November 20, 2007
The horse raced past the barn fell. scores higher than
The horse that raced past the barn fell.
The boy the girl liked left. scores higher than
The boy who the girl liked left.
and so on.
Besides, Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.
posted by cogneuro at 1:49 PM on November 20, 2007
If this is junior high school, where are my tater tots?
posted by Smedleyman at 1:57 PM on November 20, 2007
posted by Smedleyman at 1:57 PM on November 20, 2007
fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart fart.
Just doing my bit to keep the discourse down on a level I'm comfortable with.
Poop!
posted by BitterOldPunk at 2:18 PM on November 20, 2007
Just doing my bit to keep the discourse down on a level I'm comfortable with.
Poop!
posted by BitterOldPunk at 2:18 PM on November 20, 2007
togdon: "Sorry, a cash-advance loan scheme site that's served off the same network block, so this is essentially a great way to get people to their cash-advance loan scheme site."
Ooh, good spot. The "put this badge on your website" snippet contains a link to the cash advance thing, too. This is probably an attempt at manufacturing a Google Bomb.
Excellent point, can't be repeated too often. I was seriously considering FPPing this myself a couple days ago before I saw the cash advance link. Since the 'cash advance' industry is one of the purest forms of EVIL supported by the Capitalist system, I decided right then that this was NOT worthy of posting on Metafilter and I STILL DO. Flagged.
posted by wendell at 2:29 PM on November 20, 2007
Ooh, good spot. The "put this badge on your website" snippet contains a link to the cash advance thing, too. This is probably an attempt at manufacturing a Google Bomb.
Excellent point, can't be repeated too often. I was seriously considering FPPing this myself a couple days ago before I saw the cash advance link. Since the 'cash advance' industry is one of the purest forms of EVIL supported by the Capitalist system, I decided right then that this was NOT worthy of posting on Metafilter and I STILL DO. Flagged.
posted by wendell at 2:29 PM on November 20, 2007
Hmm. Mine's undgergrad, which is rather appropriate as I never graduated.
posted by brundlefly at 2:46 PM on November 20, 2007
posted by brundlefly at 2:46 PM on November 20, 2007
Wait, what's wrong with cash advance? I've been there, needed it desperately, and moved on with my life with money for retirement, savings in the bank, and a comfortable level of income.
See also Alex Tabarrok on credit snobs. It's a bit over the top but on point.
Granted, advertising like this evil.
posted by Pants! at 2:50 PM on November 20, 2007
See also Alex Tabarrok on credit snobs. It's a bit over the top but on point.
Granted, advertising like this evil.
posted by Pants! at 2:50 PM on November 20, 2007
Flagged for the loan spam in their copy+paste html fragment. This is not good. And wtf is up with google.com's genius rating?
Although, I did appreciate the algorithm sayin' my profile here is at the College (Postgrad) reading level. Thanks for that, spammers!
posted by finite at 3:17 PM on November 20, 2007
Although, I did appreciate the algorithm sayin' my profile here is at the College (Postgrad) reading level. Thanks for that, spammers!
posted by finite at 3:17 PM on November 20, 2007
Moar fascinating results:
posted by finite at 4:31 PM on November 20, 2007
news.bbc.co.uk: college (postgrad)Conclusion: black-box algorithms yield more questions than answers.
nytimes.com: junior high school
cnn.com: high school
drudgereport.com: elementary school
en.wikinews.org: genius
en.wikipedia.org: high school
google.com: genius
yahoo.com: junior high school
news.google.com: college (postgrad)
news.yahoo.com junior high school
gnome.org: college (undergrad)
kde.org: high school
microsoft.com: college (undergrad)
apple.com: college (undergrad)
boingboing.net: high school
digg.com: We were unable to check the URL you entered.
reddit.com: junior high school
slashdot.org: high school
livejournal.com/stats/latest.bml: elementary school
metafilter.com: junior high school
ask.metafilter.com: high school
metatalk.metafilter.com: college (postgrad)
music.metafilter.com: college (postgrad)
projects.metafilter.com: high school
...and this thread is now back down to the junior high school reading level.
posted by finite at 4:31 PM on November 20, 2007
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starwars.com - postgrad
startrek.com - postgrad
Mathworld page on Fermat's Last Theorem - elementary school
hmm.
posted by null terminated at 11:47 AM on November 20, 2007