The Fry Graph Readability Formula
The Fry Graph Readability Formula
Edward Fry developed one of the more popular Reading Formulas – the Fry Graph Readability Formula. Fry, who worked as a Fulbright Scholar in Uganda, also helped teachers to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) for a few years, from 1963 and onwards. During his early days, Fry developed readability tests based on graph [A Readability Formula That Saves Time, Journal of Reading (1968)]. This graph-based test determined readability through high school; it was validated with materials from primary and secondary schools and with results of other readability formulas.
In 1969, Fry extended the graph to primary levels. In his book Elementary Reading Instruction in 1977, Fry extended the graph to test through the college years. Fry advised that an individual’s vocabulary continues to grow during college years, yet the reading ability varies depending on the individual and the subjects taught.
Fry went on to become Director of the Reading Center of Rutgers University and an authority on how people learn to read.
The Fry Graph Readability Formula
Step 1: Select 3 samples of 100-word passages randomly (eliminate the numbers from word count).
Step 2: Count the number of sentences in all three 100-word passages, estimating the fraction of the last sentence to the nearest 1/10th.
Step 3: Count the number of syllables in all three 100-word passages. Make a table as follows:
Number of Sentences
Number of Syllables First 100 words
Second 100 words
Third 100 words
Total
Average
Step 4: Enter the graph with Average Sentence Length and Number of Syllables. Plot dot where the two lines intersect. Area where dot is plotted signifies the approximate reading grade level of the content.
Step 5: If you find a great deal of variability, you can put more sample counts into the average.
Scores that appear in the dark area (long sentences and long words) are invalid.
Edward Fry developed one of the more popular Reading Formulas – the Fry Graph Readability Formula. Fry, who worked as a Fulbright Scholar in Uganda, also helped teachers to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) for a few years, from 1963 and onwards. During his early days, Fry developed readability tests based on graph [A Readability Formula That Saves Time, Journal of Reading (1968)]. This graph-based test determined readability through high school; it was validated with materials from primary and secondary schools and with results of other readability formulas.
In 1969, Fry extended the graph to primary levels. In his book Elementary Reading Instruction in 1977, Fry extended the graph to test through the college years. Fry advised that an individual’s vocabulary continues to grow during college years, yet the reading ability varies depending on the individual and the subjects taught.
Fry went on to become Director of the Reading Center of Rutgers University and an authority on how people learn to read.
The Fry Graph Readability Formula
Step 1: Select 3 samples of 100-word passages randomly (eliminate the numbers from word count).
Step 2: Count the number of sentences in all three 100-word passages, estimating the fraction of the last sentence to the nearest 1/10th.
Step 3: Count the number of syllables in all three 100-word passages. Make a table as follows:
Number of Sentences
Number of Syllables First 100 words
Second 100 words
Third 100 words
Total
Average
Step 4: Enter the graph with Average Sentence Length and Number of Syllables. Plot dot where the two lines intersect. Area where dot is plotted signifies the approximate reading grade level of the content.
Step 5: If you find a great deal of variability, you can put more sample counts into the average.
Scores that appear in the dark area (long sentences and long words) are invalid.