Content
Cloze Testing
A practical UX and content method for testing comprehension by asking users to complete structured missing-word content.
How to run cloze testing to identify confusing language and improve readability, clarity, and task support.
Quick take
If you want to know whether users really understand your content, remove some words and test comprehension.
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What it is
Cloze testing is a UX and content method used to evaluate glossaryReadabilityHow easy content is to read and understand.Open glossary term and glossaryComprehensionHow well users understand content, instructions, or interfaces.Open glossary term by systematically removing words from a text and asking users to fill in the blanks.
It helps identify which parts of content are confusing, unclear, or poorly structured.
This method is often applied to instructional content, help articles, product descriptions, or any text that requires understanding to complete tasks.
The focus is on glossaryComprehensionHow well users understand content, instructions, or interfaces.Open glossary term rather than grammar or style.
The goal is to ensure users can understand and act on your content as intended.
Cloze testing reveals where users genuinely understand content versus where they are only skimming.
When to use it
Use this method when you need to test content glossaryComprehensionHow well users understand content, instructions, or interfaces.Open glossary term.
It is most useful when:
It is less useful when:
Cloze testing is often used alongside readability testing and plain language reviews.
Key takeaway
Use cloze testing when language clarity directly affects user success.
How to run it
Set up properly.
Before you start, be clear on the content to test, the words or phrases to remove, and the user group for testing.
Select representative content and realistic scenarios.
Run the method.
Cloze testing is structured and task-based.
Remove selected words systematically from the text. Present the modified content to users. Ask users to fill in the blanks. Observe errors, hesitation, or misinterpretation. Record and analyse glossaryResponseA response is the data or result returned by a server after receiving a request.Open glossary term.
Focus on glossaryComprehensionHow well users understand content, instructions, or interfaces.Open glossary term, not recall ability alone.
Capture and make sense of it.
The value comes from identifying unclear or confusing content.
After testing: highlight words or sections that users struggle with, note glossaryPatternA reusable solution to a common design problem.Open glossary term of misunderstanding, prioritise content revisions, and validate improvements with follow-up tests.
Use this to make content more understandable and actionable.
What to look for
Focus on:
Where it goes wrong
Most issues come from:
If the blanks are too obvious or too hard, the results are invalid.
What you get from it
Done properly, this method gives you:
Key takeaway
It helps ensure users understand content and can act on it correctly.
Get in touch
If this sounds like something you need, we can run cloze testing on your content to identify gaps in glossaryComprehensionHow well users understand content, instructions, or interfaces.Open glossary term and make your product easier to understand.
No guesswork. No assumptions. Just content that works for real users.
FAQ
Common questions
A few practical answers to the questions that usually come up around this method.
What is cloze testing in UX?
It is a method for measuring glossaryComprehensionHow well users understand content, instructions, or interfaces.Open glossary term by having users fill in missing words in content.
When should you use cloze testing?
During guideContent AuditEvaluating content quality, relevance, and consistency to identify gaps, remove clutter, and improve content effectiveness.Open guide, guideReadability TestingEvaluating reading ease and comprehension to simplify content and improve usability for the target audience.Open guide, or copy glossaryRefinementRefinement is the process of preparing and clarifying backlog items before development.Open glossary term.
What can you test?
Instructional text, help articles, product copy, and messaging.
Why is it important?
It identifies sections users do not understand and prevents confusion.
Does cloze testing improve UX?
Yes. It ensures content is clear, understandable, and actionable.