A Readability Tutorial: How to Write Web Copy People Actually Finish
By the SiteLens AI team · August 18, 2026
Most web copy is abandoned before the second paragraph. This tutorial teaches the concrete editing moves that make copy readable — shorter sentences, plain words, and structure.
Readability is not about dumbing things down. It is about respecting the reader’s attention. People scan web pages rather than read them word for word, and they give up quickly when text feels like work. The good news: readability is mostly a set of editable habits, not a talent.
1. Shorten your sentences
Long sentences force the reader to hold more information in memory before reaching a full stop. Aim for an average of 15 to 20 words per sentence. When you spot a sentence over 30 words, look for a place to split it with a period.
In order to ensure that our customers are able to fully take advantage of the wide range of features that our platform provides, we have implemented a comprehensive onboarding process that guides users through each step.
We want every customer to use the platform well. So we built a guided onboarding that walks you through each step.
The before sentence is 35 words with the main verb buried. The after version splits it into two short sentences and leads with the verb. Same meaning, a fraction of the effort.
2. Replace jargon with plain words
Jargon excludes readers who do not share your vocabulary. Every internal term is a small barrier. Replace it with the plain-language equivalent whenever the precision is not essential.
Leverage our synergistic omnichannel solution to optimize customer touchpoints across the purchase funnel.
Reach your customers on every channel they use, from first click to repeat purchase.
The after version says the same thing in words a non-marketer can understand. Precision was not lost — only fog.
3. Use the active voice
Passive voice hides who is doing what, which makes sentences feel vague and bureaucratic. Active voice names the actor and the action, which is shorter and clearer.
Mistakes were made by the team during the migration, and improvements are being implemented.
The team made mistakes during the migration, and we are fixing them now.
The after version takes responsibility and tells you what is happening. It is also shorter. Active voice almost always is.
4. Break walls of text into structure
A paragraph longer than four or five lines on a screen will be skipped. Keep paragraphs to one idea each. Add subheadings every few paragraphs so scanners can navigate. Use bulleted lists for any series of three or more items.
5. Measure and iterate
Readability scores like Flesch Reading Ease are imperfect but useful as a gut check. A score above 60 means most adults can read the text comfortably; below 30 means it is hard work. Aim for 60 or higher on general-audience pages.
SiteLens AI reports a Flesch readability score, average words per sentence, and reading time for any URL you review. Use them as a baseline, apply the edits above, and re-run the review to see the numbers move.
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