Each "Communication Corner" essay is self-contained; however, they build on each other. For best results, before reading this essay and doing the exercise, go to the first essay "How an Ugly Duckling Became a Swan," then read each succeeding essay.

The Gunning Fog Index is supposed to provide a means of determining how easy or difficult a text will be to read. But does it? Can any formula really provide valid insights into the readability of a text? And if so, does it really matter?