Why You Should Write at a 6th Grade Reading Level, Even for Smart People

Everyone says to write at a sixth grade reading level, and every time you hear it, it feels like an insult—as if your audience is too dumb to understand anything else. But it’s not about intelligence. It’s about energy.

Attention is expensive. The harder someone has to work to understand your writing, the faster they back out. Not because they’re dumb, but because they’re tired, distracted, or seconds away from a text message pulling them out of your page.

So when you write at a sixth grade reading level, you’re not dumbing anything down. You’re removing speed bumps. You’re making it easier for busy, smart, capable people to stay with you, and that’s the whole point.

In this post, we’re going to break down why this idea matters more than you think, how it’s not what it seems, and how you can simplify your content without sounding like a robot or a children’s book.

The Brain Tax: Why Thinking Feels Expensive

If you want people to bounce from your content, make them think too hard.

That sounds harsh, but it’s the reality in a time where social media validates short attention spans and instant gratification. Reading isn’t the issue, keeping someone's attention is. The brain weighs every decision, even the tiny ones, like whether to finish your paragraph. If it feels like a chore, the brain chooses out.

This is where the idea to write at a sixth grade reading level makes total sense. It’s not about talking down to anyone. It’s about friction. Most of your readers are skimming from their phones, waiting for coffee, dodging Slack pings, and dealing with three other tabs open.

Simple writing cuts through the noise. Let your readers easily digest your content, especially on social media.

A Princeton study once showed that when people read something in plain language, they actually rate the writer as smarter. Clear writing gives your reader fewer hoops to jump through, and that makes them more likely to stay, absorb, and trust. If you can say it simply, you understand it deeply.

Want real-world proof? Think about your own behavior. When you hit a dense article with jargon and tangled sentences, do you slow down to “appreciate the nuance?” Or do you hit the back button and try the next Google result?

Exactly.

Action item:

Open your last blog post or sales page. Read it out loud. Anywhere you trip, pause, or re-read? That’s a brain tax moment. Start rewriting those lines like you were talking to a friend over coffee.

It’s Not Dumbing Down, It’s Clear Communication

Let’s kill the biggest lie right now: writing simply doesn’t make you look dumb.

Some folks hear “write at a sixth grade reading level” and instantly imagine boring language, childish sentences, and talking to your audience like they’re slow. That’s not it.

You’re not insulting your reader’s intelligence, you’re respecting their time.

We’ve all seen the difference. A website that explains coverage in clear, straight-up terms versus one that reads like a legal memo from 1998. Which one do you trust more? Which one would your client email back?

Tthe smartest people in the room don’t show it with big words. They show it by making hard things sound easy.

Steve Jobs wasn’t successful because he talked like an engineer. He was successful because he explained tech like a normal human. That’s your goal when you write at a sixth grade reading level, not to be clever, but to be clear.

Your goal is to keep people reading. And the fastest way to lose them is to make them feel confused, bored, or dumb. When someone says “I never thought of it that way” or “That finally makes sense,” you’ve already won.

Action item:

Take one of your most-read pieces and rewrite the first 100 words using only the language you’d use in a client meeting. No fluff, no filler, no $10 words. Just clarity. Then watch what happens when you send it out again.

The Hidden Benefits of Simpler Writing

People think writing simply is only about readability. It’s not. It’s also the fastest cheat code for better performance across the board.

When you write at a sixth grade reading level, here’s what happens that no one tells you:

1. Your SEO gets stronger.

Google doesn’t reward clever. It rewards clarity. Clean, plain language keeps people on the page longer, lowers bounce rate, and boosts your rankings. If you’re bleeding traffic, odds are your content isn’t too short, it’s too hard to follow.

2. Your team moves faster.

Ever sent a draft to someone on your team and got it back with a million comments? When the writing is clear and simple, there’s less to argue about. Fewer edits. Faster reviews. That matters if you’re running lean.

3. You sound more confident.

Simple writing reads as authority. Complex writing reads as insecurity. People who know their stuff don’t dress it up. They say it straight. When you write simply, people trust you more.

4. Your readers finish the whole thing.

Most content dies in the first few scrolls. But when you write in a rhythm people can follow, short sentences, tight paragraphs, no extra junk, they actually make it to the end. And that’s where the conversions live.

The phrase write at a sixth grade reading level isn’t a buzzword. It’s a strategy. It gives your content legs, speed, and reach, without you spending another dime.

Action item:

Run your most important page through Hemingway App or a similar tool. Aim for a Grade 6 reading score. Don’t panic when it highlights half the page. Use it to trim, clarify, and simplify. Then re-publish and track how it performs over the next 30 days.

How to Actually Write at a Sixth Grade Reading Level Without Sounding Dumb

Here’s where most people panic.

They buy into the idea to write at a sixth grade reading level, but then stare at the screen wondering how to do it without sounding like a kid’s book.

Let’s fix that.

First, use tools, but don’t let them write for you.

Apps like Hemingway or Grammarly can point out dense sentences, passive voice, and complex phrases. Use them like a highlighter, not a substitute. You’re still the one writing.

Second, keep your sentences short.

The average reader stops following after about 15 words. Break long thoughts into smaller ones. Ask yourself: "Is there a shorter way to say this?"

Third, use common words.

No one ever complained that something was too easy to understand. Say “use” instead of “utilize,” “help” instead of “assist,” and “get” instead of “obtain.” This isn’t about lowering standards. It’s about raising clarity. More importantly? It's the way you'd actually speak about something.

Fourth, cut the clutter.

Phrases like “in order to,” “the fact that,” and “due to the nature of” can all go. Your writing should be like a clean countertop, nothing extra, just what’s useful.

Fifth, explain it like you’re pitching a smart friend.

They’re sharp, curious, and busy—so skip the jargon and get to the point. That mindset changes everything.

Action item:

Take your About page or LinkedIn summary and rewrite it using only words you’d say out loud in a conversation. Then read it out loud. If it sounds like something you’d actually say, you’re on the right track.

Clear Writing Respects the Reader

Writing simply isn’t playing small—it’s playing smart. When you write at a sixth grade reading level, you respect your reader’s time, your own voice, and the reality that attention is earned one sentence at a time. That’s what keeps people reading. That’s what makes your agency look sharp without shouting. And if you want to simplify your intake process the same way you simplify your writing, check out Canopy Connect. It makes gathering insurance information feel just as easy.