Writing.Com 101

The Star Rating System

The star rating system allows registered users to quickly and easily provide authors with feedback on their items. Item ratings range from one star (needs a lot of work) to five stars (perfect). Ratings increase in half star increments.

How Do I Rate Items?
The rating area for items is at the bottom of the item. If you would like to leave an anonymous review with your rating, choose to "Make Anonymous" at the bottom under the review area. Rate an item by selecting your desired rating and then clicking "Rate Now!". To send a review with your rating, fill in the text box at the bottom and click "Rate & Review!".

You must be logged in to your Writing.Com account to rate an item and you may only rate each item one time. Ratings already given may be cleared and given again if you feel the need. Sometimes authors rework their items as reviews and comments come in; readers have the ability to clear their initial rating and give them a higher one.

How Are Ratings Calculated?
Each item's average rating is at the top right corner of that item. To find the correct half star rating, we round an item's rating average if it does not end in .0 (ie; 1.0, 3.0 or 5.0) or .5 (ie; 1.5, 2.5 or 4.5). To find the rounded average, Writing.Com uses the following system:
.75 and higher round up to the next full number,
.25 through .74 round to .5 and
.24 and lower round down to the full number.

Examples of the star rating system calculations:

An item with a 4.80 average rating rounds to 5.0.
An item with a 4.75 average rating rounds to 5.0.
An item with a 4.74 average rounds to a 4.5.
An item with a 4.25 average rounds to a 4.5.
An item with a 4.24 average rounds to 4.0.
An item with 3.75 averages rounds to a 4.0.
An item with 3.74 averages rounds to a 3.5.

Please remember: if you READ it, RATE it! Ratings are very important to Writing.Com and its authors and it only takes a second to contribute your opinion about the item you just read.

Recommended Reading

1. How Should I Rate Items on Writing.Com? 
2. Comment-In-A-Box 
3. Rating/Reviewing Preferences