To check for passive voice in Word 2013, turn on the passive sentences grammar check. Click File > Options > Proofing, set Writing Style to Grammar & Style, click Settings, check Passive sentences, and click OK. Then run Review > Spelling & Grammar (or press F7). Word flags passive sentences and can show the percentage of passive sentences in your document. In Word for Microsoft 365, the option is under Editor settings > Clarity > Passive voice.
Here are the steps for each version, how to see readability statistics, and how to rewrite passive sentences.
How to turn on passive voice checking in Word 2013
- Click File > Options.
- Click Proofing.
- Under When correcting spelling and grammar in Word, set Writing Style to Grammar & Style.
- Click Settings, check Passive sentences in the Style list, and click OK.
- Also check Show readability statistics, then click OK.
How to check your document
- Click Review > Spelling & Grammar, or press F7.
- Word highlights passive sentences one at a time and may suggest an active version.
- When the check finishes, the Readability Statistics box shows Passive Sentences as a percentage.
Word’s passive voice detection isn’t perfect. It can miss some sentences and flag others that are fine. Use it as a guide.
Word for Microsoft 365 and Word 2019 or later
- Click File > Options > Proofing.
- Next to Writing Style, click Settings.
- Under Clarity, check Passive Voice and Passive Voice with Unknown Actor, then click OK.
- Click Home > Editor and look under Refinements > Clarity.
How to fix passive sentences
| Passive | Active |
|---|---|
| The report was written by Maya. | Maya wrote the report. |
| Mistakes were made. | We made mistakes. |
| The data will be analyzed next week. | The team will analyze the data next week. |
Find who’s doing the action, put them first, and follow with the verb. Passive voice is fine when the actor is unknown or unimportant, like “The building was constructed in 1920,” or in some scientific writing.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn’t Word flag passive voice by default?
It’s a style preference, not a grammar error, so it’s off by default.
What’s a good passive sentence percentage?
Many writing guides suggest keeping it low, often under about 10%, but it depends on your field and audience.
Can Google Docs check passive voice?
Google Docs doesn’t have a built-in passive voice check. Browser add-ons and writing assistants can help.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.