This is a minor mode to aid in finding common writing problems. Matt Might’s weaselwords scripts inspired this mode.
It highlights text based on a set of weasel-words, passive-voice and duplicate words.
First, load in the mode.
(add-to-list 'load-path "path/to/writegood-mode") (require 'writegood-mode) (global-set-key "\C-cg" 'writegood-mode)
I use the command key above to start the mode when I wish to check my writing.
The user is free to customize three main portions of the mode.
The three faces used pull from the default warning face and add subtle backgrounds. There is a separate face for each check performed.
- Weasel words (writegood-weasels-face)
- Passive voice (writegood-passive-voice-face)
- Duplicate words (writegood-duplicates-face)
There is a large list of included weasel words, but you may have your own. See the write-good-weasel-words variable to modify this list.
There is also a list of irregular passive voice verbs. These are the verbs that do not end in ‘ed’ to signify past tense. This variable allow the user to modify the list as needed.
Artbollocks looks to be an alternative mode to this one. One advantage is a built-in Flesch-Kincaid readability test.