Passive Voice Detector

Rule-based, no AI. Paste text to see likely passive sentences and highlighted phrases (e.g. "was written", "is done"). Privacy-first — nothing leaves your browser.

Analyzed in your browser only. No data is sent to any server.

Paste your text to get started

Paste or type in the box above. Sentences split by . ? ! You’ll see passive count, percentage, and highlighted phrases. Privacy-first — no data leaves your browser.

Privacy-first: no AI, no data collection, no data storage.

Runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is sent to any server. Rule-based logic only — no AI, no training data: "be" verbs (is, are, was, were, been, being) plus past participles (-ed, -en, or words like "written", "done"). May include false positives or miss some passive constructions. Use as a writing guide, not a final authority.

When to use and when to avoid passive voice

Passive voice has a place in clear writing. Knowing when it helps and when it hurts readability — and how that affects SEO and mobile — improves your content.

When passive voice is useful

  • Actor unknown or irrelevant: "The data was collected in 2024." You don’t need to name who collected it.
  • Emphasis on the result: "The report was approved." The approval matters more than who approved it.
  • Formal or scientific tone: "Samples were tested under controlled conditions." Common in research and reports.

When to avoid passive voice

  • You want clarity and punch: Active is usually shorter and easier to follow (e.g. "John wrote the report" vs "The report was written by John").
  • Instructions or calls to action: "Click the button" beats "The button should be clicked."
  • Blogs and marketing: Readers engage more with direct, active sentences.

SEO and readability impact

Search engines favor content that keeps users on the page. Readable, scannable text — including a healthy balance of active voice — tends to support lower bounce rates and better engagement. There’s no direct "passive penalty," but clear, active prose often aligns with what ranks well and what readers finish.

Mobile readability

On mobile, attention is shorter and screens are small. Long, passive sentences are harder to parse at a glance. Prefer short, active sentences for key points and CTAs so readers can skim and act quickly.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is passive voice?

Passive voice is when the subject receives the action (e.g. 'The report was written by John') instead of performing it ('John wrote the report'). Active voice is often clearer and more direct. This tool uses rule-based detection (no AI)—it looks for 'be' verbs followed by past participles.

Is this tool using AI?

No. This is a rule-based, non-AI detector. It checks for common patterns (e.g. 'was written', 'is done', 'are considered') to flag likely passive constructions. It may miss some passive sentences or flag false positives. Use it as a guide, not a replacement for editing.

Is my text sent to a server?

No. Privacy-first: analysis runs entirely in your browser. Your text never leaves your device. No data is collected or sent anywhere.

Should I always avoid passive voice?

No. Passive voice is fine when the actor is unknown or less important (e.g. 'The data was collected in 2024'). Use active voice when you want clarity and directness; use passive when it fits the context. This tool helps you spot passive so you can decide case by case.