What does a high Gunning Fog Index score indicate?

A high Gunning Fog Index score indicates that the text may be difficult for some readers. The Gunning Fog Index is a readability test designed to measure the complexity of English writing. It takes into account the number of words, the number of sentences, and the percentage of complex words (words with three or more syllables). A higher score signifies a greater level of complexity, suggesting that the text is likely to be more challenging for the average reader to understand. This can be particularly important in business writing, where clarity is crucial for effective communication.

While there are aspects of vocabulary and sentence length considered in the index—such as complex words and longer sentences—these factors contribute to the overall readability score rather than directly indicating simplicity or ease of understanding. Therefore, a high score is a clear marker that the material is less accessible to a broad audience.