Hemingway Scores: Flesch-Kincaid vs ARI
Published: September 23, 2025 | Last Updated: September 23, 2025
Readability scores gauge complexity for privacy-conscious writers. Our Hemingway-inspired tool uses rule-based Flesch-Kincaid and ARI, avoiding AI’s opaque models. See also accessible writing tools and offline checking.
Flesch-Kincaid Overview
Calculates based on sentence length and syllables: Score = 0.39*(words/sentences) + 11.8*(syllables/words) - 15.59.
ARI Overview
Uses characters and sentences: Score = 4.71*(characters/words) + 0.5*(words/sentences) - 21.43.
Example Comparison
Sample text: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog."
Flesch-Kincaid: ~5th grade. ARI: ~4th grade.
See the formulas in action on our GitHub.
FAQ
Which readability score is better?
It depends on your audience. Flesch-Kincaid is great for general text, while ARI suits technical content.
Is this tool free?
Yes, our Hemingway-style checker is completely free and open-source.
Why avoid AI-based readability tools?
AI tools often rely on opaque models and server-side processing, risking data privacy. Our rule-based tool is transparent and local.
This post will be updated quarterly with new formula insights and comparisons.