Passive Voice Detector
Identify phrases in passive voice to make your writing stronger and more direct.
Statistics
(111 no spaces)
High passive voice usage (>30%). Consider rewriting.
Highlighted phrases use passive voice (be + past participle)
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Be Direct. Be Powerful.
Strong writing is about action. When you use the passive voice, your sentences lose their punch and your meaning gets buried. The Passive Voice Detector is your editorial assistant, scanning your text for tell-tale signs like "was [verb]" or "has been [verb]", highlighting them so you can rewrite them with energy and clarity.
Active vs. Passive Voice: The Difference
Active Voice (Strong)
The subject performs the action.
Subject (Chef) → Action (Cooked) → Object (Meal)
Passive Voice (Weak)
The subject receives the action.
Subject (Meal) ← Action (Was cooked) ← Object (Chef)
How to Use
- Paste or upload your text (supports .txt and .md files)
- Review pink highlights - Each passive voice phrase is marked
- Check statistics - See passive count and percentage
- Rewrite for clarity - Convert passive to active voice
- Download or copy - Export your analyzed text
Common Use Cases
Blog & Content Writing
Make your content more engaging and direct. Active voice captures attention and drives action in headlines and calls-to-action.
Academic Papers
While some passive voice is acceptable in research, overuse weakens arguments. Strengthen your thesis statements and conclusions.
Business Communication
Emails and reports benefit from clarity. Active voice eliminates ambiguity and makes recommendations more persuasive.
Is Passive Voice Always Bad?
No! While active voice is generally better for clarity, passive voice has its place. You should use it when:
- The actor is unknown: "My car was stolen." (We don't know who did it).
- The actor is irrelevant: "The data was processed." (It doesn't matter which server did it).
- You want to be diplomatic: "Mistakes were made." (Instead of "You made a mistake").
- Scientific writing: "The solution was heated to 100°C." (Objectivity is preferred).
Transformation Guide
Passive (Weak)
Active (Strong)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why avoid passive voice?
Passive voice ('The ball was hit') hides the actor and weakens the sentence. Active voice ('He hit the ball') is more direct, engaging, and clear. Passive voice leads to wordier sentences and makes your writing feel distant and impersonal.
Is passive voice always wrong?
No. Sometimes you want to emphasize the object or the actor is unknown ('Mistakes were made'). Passive voice is useful in scientific writing or when the action is more important than the actor. However, overuse makes writing sluggish.
Can I upload files to check?
Yes! Click the Upload button in the Input Text header to import .txt or .md files. The tool will analyze your document and highlight all passive voice constructions in pink. You can then download the analyzed version.
How do I fix passive voice?
Identify the actor and make it the subject. For example, 'The report was written by Sarah' becomes 'Sarah wrote the report.' Look for 'be' verbs (was, were, is, are) followed by past participles (written, thrown, made). Rewrite to put the doer first.
What's the difference between 'was' and passive voice?
Not every 'was' is passive! 'He was tired' is just a state of being. Passive voice requires 'be verb + past participle,' like 'The cake was eaten.' The tool checks for this specific pattern, not just the presence of 'was.'
Does this work for all languages?
This tool is optimized for English passive voice patterns (be + past participle). Other languages have different passive constructions. For Spanish, French, or German, you'd need language-specific tools.
Can overuse of passive voice harm SEO?
Indirectly, yes. Search engines favor clear, readable content. Passive voice makes sentences harder to read, which can increase bounce rates. Active voice improves readability scores and user engagement, both positive SEO signals.
How does the detection algorithm work?
The tool scans for 'to be' verbs (am, is, are, was, were, be, been, being) followed by past participles (verbs ending in -ed or irregular forms like 'written,' 'thrown,' 'made'). This pattern is the hallmark of passive voice in English.
When IS passive voice acceptable?
Use passive voice when: (1) The actor is unknown ('The window was broken'), (2) The action is more important than the actor ('Votes will be counted'), (3) You want to be diplomatic ('Errors were found' vs. 'You made errors'), or (4) In scientific writing for objectivity.
Can I download the results?
Yes! Click the TXT button in the Voice Analysis header to download your analyzed text. The download preserves the original content so you can review offline and make edits.