jimh009 - 6:46 pm on Mar 23, 2009 (gmt 0)

> It would be nice if I could find that, but I don't think that there is a software out there like that.

There is...sort of.

It's called Stylewriter (google it). I use it and it works wonderfully. It doesn't do exactly what you want (put things in a "x" level). Instead, it locates complex/confusing words that can be simplified...among many other things (such as passive/active voice problems, wordiness, hidden verbs).

This program is a gem...I use it everyday (I'm almost done with my first novel, so I do use this program extensively) and have started using it now for articles on my web site now as well.

This program makes MS Word's grammar stuff seem very, very lame by comparison.

Is it perfect? Of course not. But even your high-powered writer might feel embarrassed when you show her the results of a solid re-writing of her work and how the program has a unique ability to make what you write easier to read and far more understandable.

Only problem is that the program only works with MS Word. If you use another word processor, you're out of luck.

PS...I think you're correct about the reading level. The average person does indeed have a 4th grade reading level, from what I've read a few times somewhere. But, you know what, that lower level is usually far easier and clearer to read than material written at a graduate level (and often far more enjoyable to read, too). Just because something is "more advanced" does not make it better!

Get the program...you won't be disappointed (and no, I don't have a financial bone in the program in any way. Just a big convert who uses it everyday).

Also, one more note. It uses an ancient crypkey protection system to prevent unauthorized copies. It's annoying, but there's a way to get rid of it if you yell at the people who created Stylewriter enough (the program was locking down my external hard drive, and thus prevented my laptop dock from working properly). If you don't' have a laptop dock, this probably isn't an issue.