A small tool with one strong opinion.
Direct sentences are kind to readers. This site helps you write more of them.
Passive Voice Detector does exactly one job: it reads your text, marks every passive construction, and hands you a graded report card — instantly, for free, without an account.
It was designed around a single architectural decision: the analysis never leaves your browser. There is no server that receives your words, which means pasting a confidential draft here is no different from reading it on your own screen. The privacy policy is short for that reason.
What the grades mean
The grade reflects the share of your sentences that contain a passive construction: A up to 5%, B up to 10% (the common editorial target), C up to 18%, D up to 28%, and F beyond that. The point is not zero passive voice — it's knowing when the passive has stopped being a choice and become a habit.
Honest limits
The detector is rule-based, not an AI model. That is what makes it private and instant, and it handles the overwhelming majority of passive constructions — but English is inventive, and edge cases exist. Treat the findings as a strong editorial signal, not a verdict; the guide explains the grammar so you can always overrule the machine.
For those who want more, there is an optional AI rewrite layer — strictly bring-your-own-key: you supply your own Anthropic or OpenAI API key, your browser talks to your provider directly, and this site never sees your key, your text, or your bill. Without a key, no AI is involved anywhere. Details in the privacy policy.
Who is behind this
The site is built and operated by Thorsten Meyer in Iffeldorf, Germany — publisher details are in the Impressum. Questions and suggestions are welcome at contact@passivevoicedetector.com.