Sentence Length Checker
Average words per sentence, long sentence share and the sentences to split first.
10% is the default limit in the Yoast SEO readability check, not a Google rule. The check runs in your browser and works for English text.
Result
0Sentences
0Passive
0%Passive share
The free passive voice checker highlights every sentence where the subject receives the action instead of doing it, shows what share of your sentences are passive and names the doer when the sentence includes one. It runs in your browser.
Quick answer
A passive voice checker finds sentences built from a form of "to be" plus a past participle, such as "the page was crawled". It shows the share of passive sentences so you can rewrite the ones where the reader cannot tell who did what. Google has no passive voice rule; the aim is clearer writing.
What is a passive voice checker?
A passive voice checker is a tool that scans text for passive constructions and reports how many sentences use them. A passive sentence puts the receiver of the action first: "the report was written by Sara" instead of "Sara wrote the report". The US government's plain language guidance on digital.gov describes the two signs this tool looks for: "a form of the verb to be" and "a past participle (generally with -ed on the end)".
Passive voice is not a grammar mistake. It is useful when the doer is unknown or does not matter. The problem is overuse, because passive sentences are often longer and, as digital.gov puts it, they "often do not identify who is performing the action". That makes instructions, policies and service pages harder to act on.
How do you use the Passive Voice Checker?
- Paste your text into the box. The tool checks it as you type.
- Look at the three counters: total sentences, passive sentences and the passive share.
- Read the highlighted text. Each passive phrase, such as was completed, is marked in its sentence.
- Check the list under the text. When a sentence names the doer after by, the tool shows it so you can move it to the front.
- Rewrite the sentences that hide who acts, then paste the new text to confirm the share went down.
How do you spot passive voice?
Look for a form of "to be" (am, is, are, was, were, be, been, being) followed by a past participle such as completed, found or written. Digital.gov gives the same two signs. A useful test is to add "by someone" after the verb: if "the page was crawled by someone" still makes sense, the sentence is passive. Do not confuse passive with past tense. "Google crawled the page" is past tense and active.
When is passive voice the better choice?
Use it when the doer is unknown, obvious or unimportant, or when the receiver is the real subject. "Your order was shipped on Monday" works because the customer cares about the order, not the warehouse worker. Digital.gov notes that "in a few instances, passive voice may be appropriate", for example when one action follows another as a matter of law. Keep passive sentences short and make sure the reader still knows what to do.
What passive share is too high?
There is no official limit. The 10% default in this tool comes from the Yoast SEO plugin, whose readability check recommends a maximum of 10% passive sentences, and that is a plugin guideline, not a search engine rule. Google's helpful content guidance asks whether content has "spelling or stylistic issues" but sets no passive voice threshold. Change the limit to match your own style guide.
Quick reference
| Passive | Active rewrite | Why rewrite |
|---|---|---|
| The audit was completed in two days. | We completed the audit in two days. | Shows who did the work |
| Broken links were found by the crawler. | The crawler found broken links. | Shorter by 2 words |
| Your request will be reviewed. | I will review your request within 24 hours. | Adds the doer and a time |
| Mistakes were made. | I made two mistakes in the report. | Removes vagueness |
| The page is being tested. | We are testing the page now. | Clearer present action |
Worked example
Example
Example: the default text has 6 sentences about an SEO audit. The tool flags 3 of them, "was completed", "were found" and "is being tested", so the passive share is 50%, well above the 10% limit. For "Several broken links were found by the crawler", it names the doer, the crawler, so the rewrite is "The crawler found several broken links". After rewriting all three, the share drops to 0%.
Learn more
Frequently asked questions
Does passive voice hurt SEO?
Not directly. Google publishes no rule about passive voice. It can hurt readers when sentences hide who does what or get long, and Google's helpful content guidance asks whether content is clear and well produced. Fix passive sentences for readers, not for a score.
Why was a sentence flagged that is not passive?
The check uses patterns, not full grammar. Adjectives that look like participles, such as "was tired" or "is interested", match the be plus -ed pattern. Read each flagged sentence and ignore the ones that are really describing a state.
Does the checker work for other languages?
No. The word lists and patterns are for English. Other languages build the passive in different ways, so results for them would be wrong. Use an English text or a checker made for your language.
Is my text saved or sent anywhere?
No. The checker runs entirely in your browser with JavaScript. Your text is never uploaded or stored, so you can check client drafts and unpublished pages safely.
How is the passive share calculated?
The tool splits the text into sentences, counts the sentences with at least one passive phrase, and divides by the total. A sentence with two passive phrases counts once, the same way most readability tools count it.
Should I remove every passive sentence?
No. Keep passive voice when the doer is unknown or unimportant, such as "the site was launched in 2020". Rewrite the sentences where the reader needs to know who acts, such as instructions, promises and policies.
Sources
Checked 22 Oct 2026. Facts checked against these official pages. Read how I check facts in my editorial policy.