Computer processes for analyzing and improving document readability by identifying passive voice
AssigneeWordRake Holdings, LLC
InventorGary W. Kinder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are systems and methods for analyzing and improving document readability. For example, a computer-implementable method of improving authored text is disclosed that can identify passive voice text within authored text by performing the following steps: scanning for a “to be” verb in the text; identifying from the scan an occurrence of a “to be” verb; scanning for a past participle in the text; identifying from the scan an occurrence of a past participle in the text; and providing information to a user regarding a proposed edit to improve the text. Various other rules for improving text are also disclosed.
Claims26
A system to improve authored text by mitigating problems related to passive voice, the system comprising:
- a database of rules, comprising at least one rule having detection logic for detecting whether a particular writing problem exists in authored text, the detection logic comprising a sign that indicates the possible occurrence or absence of the writing problem relating to passive voice, and correction logic for correcting the problem, the correction logic capable of identifying a proposed edit;
- a computer processor configured to apply the rules to the authored text;
- and
- a user interface configured to suggest the proposed edit to the user, according to the rules;
- wherein the sign comprises a past participle followed by the word “by” and one or more of the following:
- a time noun, and a transport noun, said sign not being a predetermined phrase.
Non-transitory computer storage having stored thereon executable code that directs a computer system to at least:
- detect, by application of a rule to a sentence of text, an occurrence of a sign in the sentence, the sign representing a possible occurrence of a writing problem relating to passive voice, the sign comprising a past participle followed by the word “by” and a time noun representing time, the sign not being a predetermined phrase;
- and
- determine, in connection with the occurrence of the sign, an edit to the sentence, said edit eliminating the writing problem relating to passive voice.
Non-transitory computer storage having stored thereon executable code that directs a computer system to at least:
- detect an occurrence of a sign in a sentence, the sign representing a possible occurrence of a writing problem relating to passive voice, the sign comprising a form of a “to be” verb and at least one of the following:
- “required to”, “involved”, and an infinitive form of a verb;
- determine whether the term “required” in the sentence immediately follows the “to be” verb and if so, whether the word “to” is found within the next two words after “required”;
- and
- identify, in connection with the occurrence of the sign, an edit that can be made to the sentence to correct the writing problem.
A computer-implemented method, comprising:
- determining that a sentence satisfies the following conditions:
- (1) the sentence includes a “to be” verb followed immediately by the word “required”, and (2) the word “to” is one of the next two words after “required”;
- and
- in response to determining that the sentence satisfies said conditions (1) and (2), determining an edit that can be made to the sentence to eliminate a writing problem relating to passive voice;
- said method performed by a computerized system that comprises one or more computers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.