What the highlights mean
| Highlight | What it flags | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Lilac | Hard to read (grade 10–13) | Trim words or split the sentence |
| Pink | Very hard to read (grade 14+) | Split it; one idea per sentence |
| Green | Passive voice | Put the doer first |
| Blue | Adverbs ending in -ly | Use a stronger verb instead |
| Yellow | Wordy phrases and filler | Use the shorter alternative |
The idea behind it
Ernest Hemingway was famous for short declarative sentences and few adjectives, a habit often traced to the Kansas City Star style sheet he learned as a young reporter: “Use short sentences. Use short first paragraphs. Use vigorous English.” Editors built in that spirit do one thing: make long, hedged, passive sentences visible so you can decide whether they earn their length.
How this differs from the Hemingway app
TextCheck runs in your browser with no download or account, adds spelling and grammar checks on the home page, and offers an optional AI rewrite when a sentence needs more than trimming. Grades use the Flesch–Kincaid formula for each sentence.