How to use the filler word and hedge finder
- Paste your writing into the box. The three phrase lists are preloaded: filler phrases, hedges and intensifiers.
- Open the advanced section to edit the lists. Put one phrase on a line, and add = and a suggestion after it if you want the table to show one.
- Read the headline for phrases per 1,000 words, then the table by group and by phrase.
- Use the context table to see where each of the first 60 hits appears, and edit your text. Copy the results or download the CSV.
Formula
words = runs of letters and digits in the text
phrases per 1,000 words = phrases found / words x 1,000
a phrase counts only as whole words, ignoring case; the longest phrase wins when two overlap
Each phrase is searched for as a whole word or run of words, so just does not match justified. Where one phrase sits inside a longer one, such as the fact that inside due to the fact that, only the longer one is counted.
The sample paragraph
The sample has 53 words and 13 phrases from the lists: 7 fillers (basically, actually, in order to, it is important to note that, really, due to the fact that, and just), 4 hedges (I think, perhaps, somewhat and maybe) and 2 intensifiers (very and extremely). That is 13 / 53 x 1,000 = 245.3 phrases per 1,000 words, a deliberately padded sample.
The by-phrase table lists each phrase once with its group, count and suggestion, for example in order to with the suggestion to. Those thirteen phrases hold 25 of the 53 words, so cutting them all would remove nearly half the paragraph, although some would need a rewrite rather than a plain cut.
Why these words get flagged
Filler phrases add length without adding meaning, such as in order to where to would do. Hedges soften a claim, which is sometimes honest and sometimes a way of avoiding commitment. Intensifiers such as very and extremely lean on a weak word instead of choosing a stronger one.
None of these words is wrong. A hedge is the right choice when you really are unsure, and an intensifier can carry emphasis in speech. The count points at places to look, and you decide what to keep.
Make the lists your own
The default lists are short and reflect common editing advice. A style guide for your team may add or remove phrases, and the lists are plain text you can change. A phrase can have several words. Everything after the first equals sign is kept as the suggestion.
After cutting padding, check the same text with the Passive Voice Checker and the Readability Score Calculator, or find words you lean on with the Repeated Word Finder.
Assumptions and limits
- Matching ignores case and treats apostrophes and letters as part of a word.
- The text is limited to 200,000 characters and the lists to 300 phrases in total.
- The lists are editorial opinion and not rules. Quoted speech and technical terms may need the words you flag.
- The context table shows the first 60 hits only, with about 30 characters on each side.
- Your writing stays in this browser.
Frequently asked questions
Does a high count mean my writing is bad?
Not by itself. Informal or spoken writing uses more of these words, and good writing sometimes needs a hedge. Use the count to find places to tighten and judge each one.
How are overlapping phrases counted?
The page looks for the longest phrases first and marks the words they cover. A shorter phrase inside a longer match is skipped, so each word is counted once.
Can I search for something other than filler?
Yes. The three lists are free text, so you can replace them with any words, such as jargon or banned terms, and the counts per 1,000 words work the same way.
What counts as a word for the density?
A run of letters and digits, including apostrophes and hyphens inside it. Numbers count as words, and punctuation does not.