COMM 300 - Fog Index

How The Fog Index is Figured

The Fog Index is a proven method of analyzing written material to see how easy it is to read and understand. The steps you can use to calculate the Fog Index are outlined below. The numbers in the right column are based on this paragraph.

When using these steps to analyze your writing, choose a sample that contains at least one hundred words. The "ideal" Fog Index level is 7 or 8. A level above 12 indicates the writing sample is too hard for most people to read.

1. Count the number of words in the sample..................................88

2. Count the number of sentences ...............................................6

3. Count the number of big words (3 or more syllables)......................6

4. Divide the number of sentences into the number of words..............88/6 = 14

5. Divide the number of words into the number of big words.............6/88=7%

6. Add the result of step 4 to the result of step 5...........................7 + 14 = 21

7. Multiply by .4..............................................................21 x .4 = 8.4

Fog Index...................................................8.4

Policy Sample

The following is an example of a policy statement that would be difficult for most people to read. The Fog Index (calculated below) is 13.2.

This policy addresses access to and data residing in computerized administrative systems (hereafter referred to as the systems and the data) supported by Administrative Information Services (AIS). This includes but is not limited to Financial and Student systems. It does not include institutional reporting databases (i.e., FRDB, RRDB, SDRDB, etc.), departmental systems, hard-copy files, or systems or databases maintained by any unit other than AIS. It does not supersede applicable statutes that guarantee either the protection or accessibility of data.

The intent of this policy is to (a) maximize the strategic value of the systems and the data by promoting its effective use in management decisions, daily operations, and analyses being conducted by faculty, staff, and students, (b) provide clear assignment of responsibility for protection against unauthorized use, and (c) promote security measures for the purpose of maintaining the integrity of the systems and the data.

1. Count the number of words in the sample..................................148

2. Count the number of sentences...............................................13

3. Count the number of big words (3 or more syllables).....................33

4. Divide the number of sentences into the number of words.............148/13 = 11

5. Divide the number of words into the number of big words............33/148=22%

6. Add the result of step 4 to the result of step 5...........................11 + 22 = 33

7. Multiply by .4..............................................................33 x .4 = 13.2

Fog Index.............................................................13.2

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Other Tools

Under the TOOLS Menu, Microsoft Word contains a word counter, grammar checker and thesaurus you can use to help simplify your writing style.

The grammar checker doesn't use the Fog Index. It uses three Flesch tools to analyze style:

1. Flesch Reading Ease (100 = easiest, 70-80 = average)

2. Flesch Grade Level (Assigns a grade level reader must have to understand your writing, 6 = average)

3. Flesch Kincaid (Another formula for determining reader grade level)

The grammar checker will also report the percentage of sentences written in the passive voice. Acceptable percentages for sentences with passive voice are zero!

The grammar checker will also find typos that spell checkers miss, like transpositions, capitalization errors and double words.

You can use the Thesaurus to find simpler words or use it when you find yourself using the same words over and over and over and over.

The grammar checker reported the following for the previous policy sample:

% passive - 14%

Flesch Reading Ease - 26.8

Flesch Grade Level - 17

Flesch Kincaid - 14.9