DocomintPassive Voice Detector
Flag sentences that are likely written in passive voice, so you can consider rewriting them.
Looks for the classic passive-voice shape — a form of "to be" followed by a past participle, like "was written" or "were given" — and lists every sentence that matches, so you can decide whether the passive phrasing is intentional (it often is) or worth tightening into an active sentence.
Example: "The report was written by the intern" gets flagged; rewriting it as "The intern wrote the report" is more direct — though passive voice isn't always wrong, especially when the actor doesn't matter ("Mistakes were made").
How it works
- Paste your draft
- Sentences matching the passive-voice pattern (a "be" verb plus a past participle) are flagged
- Review the list and rewrite where it improves clarity
Frequently asked questions
Is passive voice always something I should fix?
No — it's often the right choice when the actor is unknown, unimportant, or intentionally de-emphasized ("the vase was broken"). Treat each flagged sentence as worth a second look, not an automatic rewrite.
Is my text uploaded anywhere?
No — Passive Voice Detector runs entirely in your browser using JavaScript/WebAssembly. Your text is never sent to a server.
Does this catch every passive sentence, or can some slip through?
It catches the common pattern — a 'be' verb plus a past participle — but unusual phrasing or irregular verbs can occasionally slip through pattern-based detection. Treat flagged sentences as a starting point for review, not an exhaustive list.