I know I have a larger Fog Index. I tend to write for a more educated audience. However, I do try to use context and an engaging style so that most readers can get through it just fine.
Here is a sample from one of my blogs from a few years back during the big fracas about illegal immigration in the United States:
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I believe in sympathy for people. I believe in setting up a better system of getting people nationalized. I believe in helping minorities break out of poverty-level work and into areas with improved education. But who exactly is going to pay for the increasing costs of healthcare, public services and other aspects paid for by taxes? I pay about $100 a month for my health insurance, with a co-pay. That comes out of my taxed income.
What I don't believe in is this selective push for preferential treatment one group over others making their way through the channels of Due Process. What about people who are line-cutters?
Average word count per sentence: 16.
Hard words: 8.
Total: 24.
Fog Index: 9.6
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I will work to simplify things, but after a certain point, folks just need to learn to read. Literacy is not baggage.
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I figure you're in good shape for media writing as long as you have a FOG Index under "10."
ReplyDeleteOne of the things that makes this selection work is that you've varied your sentence lengths and included some short simple sentences. That makes your writing more interesting and easier to read.
15/15