Using simpler words

Word complexity is part of the Readability analysis in Yoast SEO which makes sure your content is easy to read! In general, people who read online tend to seek information they can read and understand easily. Using simple words is one of the ways to provide that. But, that doesn’t mean you should dumb down your writing. Instead, try to balance it. Too many difficult words increase the chance people will miss the message. They might even get frustrated and leave your site!

Not happy with your score? Here’s how to fix it!

Click the eye button to highlight the complex words Yoast SEO detected. We know that sometimes you can’t and might not want to use an alternative word. And that’s ok. Remember, the feedback is a suggestion. But, ultimately, you know your audience best. If you think they can handle difficult words, use them.

On the other hand, if you agree some words could do with a simple version, edit them! The quickest way is to look for synonyms of the word in Google by typing [the word you want to edit + synonym]. Or, you could use a thesaurus to find synonyms. Don’t forget to double-check if the replacement word has the same meaning as the original one. If it does, you are good to go!