Figure 1: Flesch-Kincaid (FK) grade level of State of the Union a0ddresses for selected presidents.
The data suggests a decline in complexity from Madison and Lincoln to present. The most recent
three presidents (Clinton, G.W. Bush and Obama) are statistically indistinguishable as measured by FK
(ANOVA p = .66). This is a reflection of the writing style of the time, more than the education level of
the various presidents (and their staffs). Lincoln and Kennedy are similar (p = .25), while Madison was
writing in a different grade level (p = .001).
it is invariant to the meaning of the specific passages, so it can be used equally
against samples written in different styles
or time periods. The second desirable
property is also its main drawback. Specifically, the term “grade level” can be
misleading, because it applies only to
structure and not meaning. For example:
“It is a far, far better thing that I do than
I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest
that I go to than I have ever known” [3],
and “I went to the grocery store, bought
a na l y t i c s
some rye br