Google does reading level (and dictionary)

Google announced this one in December and I don’t know how I missed it.

Today at edcampphilly, I learned that Google offers a newish feature in its Advanced Search.  (Thanks Dan Callahan!)

You can now add a three-level reading level filter to your search using a pulldown.  Options are: no reading level displayed, annotate results with reading level, show only basic results, show only intermediate results, show only advanced results.

Levels are based on two criteria: vocabulary and sentence structure.

Searchers can also now select the reading level filters under More search tools in the left navigation bar.  Also new is a very sweet and handy dictionary feature.

Another option for a reading level filtered search is Twurdy (too wordy?)  Twurdy uses text analysis software to read pages and return results using a color-coded system.