Free tool · Runs in your browser
Cover letter checker
Check a cover letter's length, greeting, opening line and reading ease in your browser. Paste your cover letter and, if you like, the company's name. See its length, reading ease and grade level, plus suggestions on the greeting, the opening line and long sentences.
Private. Runs in your browser; nothing you type leaves your device.
Updated
What we found
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How to use it
- Paste your letter. Paste the full cover letter, including the greeting and sign-off. Keep a blank line between paragraphs so the checker can count them the way a reader sees them.
- Add the company name. Type the company's name if you want the checker to confirm the letter mentions it. Leave it blank to skip that check.
- Read the stats. See the word, paragraph and sentence counts, the share of sentences that start with I, the Flesch reading ease score, the Flesch–Kincaid grade and the average sentence length.
- Weigh each suggestion. Each finding points to a greeting, an opening line, a long sentence or a length worth another look. Treat them as suggestions to judge against the job, not rules, and edit where the change makes the letter clearer.
Example
What this tool checks:
- Checks length, paragraph count, greeting, opening line, how many sentences start with “I”, and whether the company is named.
- Scores reading ease and grade level, and flags sentences over 25 words.
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- Auto apply sends your new matches for you, résumé attached and questions answered from your saved answers.
- Employer replies arrive in your Applystead mailbox and show next to the application they’re about.
- Full auto answers recruiters, offers times that are free on your calendar and adds the interview when one is accepted.
Related free tools
- Cover letter generator: Write a cover letter of about 300 words from your resume and the job, built from your own facts.
- Cover letter opening line generator: Five first sentences for a cover letter, each built around your strongest fact.
- Short cover letter generator: A 120 to 180 word cover letter for email bodies and short application forms.
- Resume word counter: Count your resume's words, characters and bullet points and estimate how many pages it fills.
- ATS resume checker: Score your resume from 0 to 100 for what applicant tracking systems and recruiters read, with a fix for each check.
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Frequently asked questions
Is this cover letter checker free, and is my letter private?
Yes to both. The checker is free, needs no account and runs in your browser. Your letter is checked on your device and nothing you type leaves it, so you can check a letter that names a real employer or your own details.
What does the cover letter checker look for?
It counts words, paragraphs and sentences, and suggests a look when the letter falls outside 250 to 400 words or 3 to 5 paragraphs. It flags a greeting that names no one, such as To whom it may concern, an opening most letters share, such as I am writing to apply, more than 40 percent of sentences starting with I, and a company name you entered that the letter never uses.
How are reading ease and grade level worked out?
Both come from the length of your sentences and the number of syllables in your words. The Flesch reading ease score is higher for easier text, and the Flesch–Kincaid grade estimates the school grade a reader needs. The checker suggests a look at any sentence over 25 words and at a grade above 12.
Do I have to change everything it finds?
No. The findings are suggestions to judge, not rules. A letter of 420 words can be right for a senior role, and a long sentence can be the clearest way to say something. Use each finding as a prompt to reread that part of the letter and keep what serves the reader.
What should I use instead of a generic greeting?
Use the hiring manager's name if the job posting or company website gives it. If you cannot find a name, a greeting to the team, such as Dear Northwind Bikes hiring team, still shows you wrote the letter for this company.