A “Fog Index” is a self-administered tool new journalists are encouraged to use before handing their writing over to their sub-editor. It’s a great little mechanism for the section authors of a bid submission to apply to their work.
Here’s the formula to apply to any specific piece of your writing, to calculate its Fog Index (the lower the score, the better):
| 1. | Take a random sample of at least 100 words from a bid section you’ve authored. 2. Count the number of words in your average sentence. |
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| 2. | Divide that by the number of sentences in that sample. |
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| 4. | Then, count how many words of three-syllables or more, that you’ve used in the sample. (Don’t count names or other forms of proper noun.) |
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| 5. | Add these two subtotals together. Then calculate four- tenths of the total. You have now established your personal Fog Index. |
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| .. | A bid writer should aim for a Fog Index of no greater than 12, preferably lower. |
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