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Will people understand your letter?
Paste a letter, notice or form and see its long sentences, possible passive voice, formal words with plainer alternatives, long words and a rough reading grade. It all happens in your browser.
The checker needs JavaScript, which is turned off. Without it, you can check by hand: count the words in your longest sentences (split any over 25), look for “is”, “are”, “was” or “were” followed by a word ending in “-ed”, and look up formal words in the word list below. The guide to plain letters and forms has a checklist.
Free, no sign-up. Nothing you type leaves your browser. The checks run on this device. Your text is not sent anywhere, not even to Moraph, and is not saved: reloading or closing the page clears it.
Paste some text and press Check. Results appear here.
Results from the Moraph for Good plain-language checker,
What the checker found
Nothing flagged. No long sentences, possible passives, formal words from our list or long words. That is a good sign, not a guarantee: ask someone who will receive it to read it and tell you what they would do.
Reading grade The Flesch-Kincaid formula only measures the length of sentences and words. Treat it as a rough guide, not a pass mark.
Your text, marked up
- commenceW Formal word or jargon, with a plainer alternative
- was sentP Possible passive voice: check who does what
- documentationL Long word, four syllables or more
- sentence Long sentence, over 25 words, with its word count
Formal words and plainer alternatives
| In your text | Try instead | Times |
|---|
Alternatives are suggestions. Keep a word if it is the right one, such as a term the law or your readers use.
Long sentences
Over 25 words. Split where the idea changes, or turn a series into a list.
Possible passive voice
A form of “be” followed by a past participle. Some are fine; rewrite the ones that hide who must act.
Long words
Four syllables or more (estimated). Many are fine, such as “information”; look for a shorter word where there is one.
Runs of capital letters
Text in capitals is harder to read. Use a heading or bold instead.
Checked in your browser. Nothing was sent anywhere or saved. These are rules of thumb, not a judgment of your writing, and they work best on English text.
How it works
What each check looks for.
The checks are simple rules that find things worth a second look. They cannot tell whether your text is clear to your readers: only readers can. For what to do about each one, read letters and forms people can act on.
- Long sentences
- Sentences over 25 words. GOV.UK asks writers to try to split sentences over 25 words; the Australian Style Manual sets 25 as the maximum and an average of 15. The CDC suggests an average of 20. A line on its own, such as a heading or a list item, counts as a sentence. Abbreviations such as “e.g.”, “Dr.” and “a.m.” do not end one.
- Possible passive voice
- A form of “be” (am, is, are, was, were, be, been, being), sometimes with a word such as “not” in between, followed by a past participle: a word ending in “-ed” or a common irregular one such as “sent”, “paid” or “given”. That is how GSA’s plain language guidance describes passive sentences. It also catches some descriptions (“we are interested”), so each one is “possible”. Where “by” follows, the CMS writing guidelines suggest moving whoever comes after “by” to the front.
- Formal words
- Words and phrases from our list of 224 formal words with plainer alternatives (below), including simple endings such as “-s”, “-ed” and “-ing”. GOV.UK, the Australian Style Manual and the CMS guidelines all ask for everyday words instead of formal ones. The list is ours, written for letters and notices; a word on it is not always wrong.
- Long words
- Words of four syllables or more, counted by rule, so the count is sometimes off by one. Numbers, abbreviations in capitals and capitalized words in the middle of a sentence (usually names) are skipped. Canada.ca notes that readers with low literacy can spend a long time on words of more than two syllables.
- Reading grade
- The Flesch-Kincaid grade level: 0.39 × (words ÷ sentences) + 11.8 × (syllables ÷ words) − 15.59, read as a US school grade. It is shown only for 30 words or more in three or more sentences. AHRQ notes that readability formulas measure length, not meaning, and Canada.ca advises not relying on them: use the number to see whether a rewrite moved in the right direction.
- Capitals
- Three or more words in a row in capital letters. GSA and AHRQ both advise against long stretches of capitals.
The word list: 224 formal words and phrases, with plainer alternatives
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| a number of | some, several, many |
| a sufficient number of | enough |
| accompany | go with |
| accomplish | do, finish |
| accordingly | so |
| accrue | build up, add up |
| acknowledge | confirm, thank you for |
| acquire | get, buy |
| additional | more, extra |
| adjacent to | next to |
| adjourn | end the meeting, stop |
| adjudicate | decide |
| adjustment | change |
| advise | tell |
| aforementioned | this, these (or name it again) |
| aggregate | total |
| allocate | give, share out |
| alternatively | or |
| ameliorate | improve |
| amend | change |
| amortization | paying off over time |
| anticipate | expect |
| apparent | clear |
| approximately | about |
| are required to | must, need to |
| arrears | money owed, overdue payments |
| ascertain | find out |
| assist | help |
| assistance | help |
| at an early date | soon (or give the date) |
| at the present time | now |
| at this point in time | now |
| at your earliest convenience | as soon as you can (or give a date) |
| attempt | try |
| attributable to | because of |
| authorise | allow, let |
| authorize | allow, let |
| cease | stop |
| cessation | end, stopping |
| chronic | long-term |
| close proximity | near |
| commence | start, begin |
| commencement | start |
| commensurate with | in line with, matching |
| communicate | tell, write, call |
| comply with | follow, keep to |
| component | part |
| comprise | include, be made up of |
| concerning | about |
| concur | agree |
| consequently | so |
| constitute | make up, be |
| contraindicated | should not be used |
| convene | meet |
| correspondence | letter, email |
| currently | now |
| deem | treat as, consider |
| defer | put off, delay |
| deficiency | lack, gap |
| delinquent | late, overdue |
| demonstrate | show |
| denote | mean, show |
| designate | name, choose |
| despite the fact that | although, even though |
| determine | decide, find out |
| disburse | pay out |
| discontinue | stop |
| discrepancy | difference, mismatch |
| disseminate | share, send out |
| documentation | papers, documents |
| due to the fact that | because |
| duly | (leave it out) |
| elect to | choose to |
| eligible | can get, qualify |
| eliminate | remove, end |
| employ | use |
| enclosed please find | here is, we have enclosed |
| encounter | meet, come across |
| endeavor | try |
| endeavour | try |
| enquire | ask |
| enquiry | question |
| ensure | make sure |
| entitlement | what you can get |
| equivalent | equal, the same |
| erroneous | wrong |
| establish | set up, show |
| evident | clear |
| exclusively | only |
| expedite | speed up |
| expenditure | spending, cost |
| facilitate | help, make easier |
| failure to | if you do not |
| feasible | possible |
| finalise | finish |
| finalize | finish |
| first and foremost | first |
| for the purpose of | to, for |
| forfeit | lose, give up |
| forthwith | now, at once |
| forward | send |
| frequently | often |
| furnish | give, send |
| furthermore | also |
| going forward | from now on |
| henceforth | from now on |
| hereby | (leave it out) |
| herein | here, in this letter |
| hereinafter | (leave it out) |
| heretofore | until now |
| herewith | (leave it out) |
| hitherto | until now |
| hypertension | high blood pressure |
| identification | ID |
| implement | do, carry out |
| in a timely manner | on time, by (give the date) |
| in accordance with | under, following |
| in addition | also |
| in an effort to | to |
| in conjunction with | with |
| in excess of | more than |
| in lieu of | instead of |
| in order to | to |
| in receipt of | have, got |
| in relation to | about |
| in respect of | about, for |
| in the amount of | for |
| in the course of | during |
| in the event that | if |
| in the near future | soon (or give the date) |
| in view of | because of |
| inception | start |
| indicate | show, say |
| individual | person |
| individuals | people |
| inform | tell |
| initiate | start |
| inquire | ask |
| inquiry | question |
| is required to | must, needs to |
| it is recommended that | we suggest, you should |
| leverage | use |
| liaise with | work with, talk to |
| magnitude | size |
| mandatory | required, must |
| medication | medicine |
| methodology | method |
| minimise | cut, reduce |
| minimize | cut, reduce |
| modify | change |
| municipal | city, town or council |
| necessitate | need |
| nevertheless | but, still |
| notify | tell |
| notwithstanding | despite, even if |
| null and void | cancelled, no longer valid |
| numerous | many |
| obligation | duty, what you must do |
| obtain | get |
| on a monthly basis | monthly, each month |
| on behalf of | for |
| on the grounds that | because |
| optimal | best |
| outstanding balance | amount you still owe |
| owing to | because of |
| participate | take part |
| per annum | a year |
| peruse | read |
| physician | doctor |
| please be advised that | (leave it out) |
| please do not hesitate to | please |
| portion | part |
| possess | have |
| preclude | stop, rule out |
| prior authorization | approval in advance |
| prior to | before |
| proceed | go ahead, go on |
| procure | get, buy |
| proficiency | skill |
| provide | give |
| provided that | if, as long as |
| purchase | buy |
| pursuant to | under |
| reimburse | pay back |
| remainder | rest |
| remit | pay, send |
| remittance | payment |
| remuneration | pay |
| render | make, give |
| request | ask, ask for |
| require | need |
| requirement | need, rule |
| reside | live |
| residence | home |
| retain | keep |
| solicit | ask for |
| subsequent | later, next |
| subsequent to | after |
| subsequently | later |
| substantial | large, big |
| sufficient | enough |
| terminate | end, stop |
| thereafter | after that |
| thereby | so, by doing this |
| therein | in it, there |
| thereof | of it |
| thus | so |
| timely | on time |
| transmit | send |
| ultimately | in the end |
| undertake | do, agree to |
| until such time as | until |
| utilise | use |
| utilization | use |
| utilize | use |
| validate | check, confirm |
| verify | check, confirm |
| viable | workable, possible |
| waive | drop, not charge |
| whereas | but, while |
| whereby | by which, so that |
| with reference to | about |
| with regard to | about |
| with the exception of | except |
Sources
Where the rules come from.
Official sources only. Each was opened and checked on 21 October 2026. If something here no longer matches the source, the source wins; please tell us at hello@moraph.org.
Last reviewed October 2026
- GOV.UK (Government Digital Service)Use clear languageguidance.publishing.service.gov.uk/writing-to-gov-uk-standards/writing-guidelines/clear-language
- Australian Government Style ManualSentenceswww.stylemanual.gov.au/writing-and-designing-content/clear-language-and-writing-style/sentences
- CDCPlain language materials and resourceswww.cdc.gov/health-literacy/php/develop-materials/plain-language.html
- Government of CanadaCanada.ca Content Style Guidedesign.canada.ca/style-guide
- GSA Digital.govPlain language: writing for understanding (active voice)digital.gov/guides/plain-language/writing
- CMSGuidelines for effective writingwww.cms.gov/training-education/learn/find-tools-to-help-you-help-others/guidelines-for-effective-writing
- GSA Digital.govPlain language: design for understandingdigital.gov/guides/plain-language/design
- AHRQHealth Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit, Tool 11: assess, select and create easy-to-understand materialswww.ahrq.gov/health-literacy/improve/precautions/tool11.html
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