write-good
write-good is a free, MIT-licensed linter for English prose, available as a command-line tool and JavaScript API.
What write-good is
write-good is a free, MIT-licensed linter for English prose, available as a command-line tool and JavaScript API. Its JavaScript function accepts a string and returns an array of suggestions. Built-in checks flag passive voice, repeated words, sentence-opening phrases, weasel words, adverbs, wordiness, clichés, and to-be verbs. Users can disable checks, whitelist phrases, or supply custom checks. The CLI can lint text entered directly, files matched by glob patterns, or text fetched from a remote file. The project README lists integrations for Atom, Drafts, Obsidian, Visual Studio Code, Vim, Chrome, and Statick, and documents running it with a Docker Hub image or a locally built image. The README also names schreib-gut as a basic German-language extension. The project is aimed at developers who want to improve their writing, and its rule action is to suggest changes. Package requirements are Node.js version 6 or later and npm version 5 or later. The project asks users to open a pull request to add unlisted extensions.
Good
- Checks eight types of prose issues
- Users can disable checks and add custom ones
- CLI accepts direct text, glob patterns, or remote files
- MIT-licensed and free
Watch out
- Requires Node.js 6 or later and npm 5 or later
- Suggestions are the rule action
Who it suits
write-good suits developers who want suggestions about common English prose issues through a CLI or JavaScript API. It also offers controls for users who want to adjust which checks run.
Verdict
write-good offers configurable suggestions for common prose patterns through a CLI and JavaScript API. It may suit developers who want linting integrated into their writing workflow.
Plans and prices
From write-good's own pricing page, checked 4 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| write-good | Free | MIT-licensed open-source package · install with npm |
The facts
Each one read from write-good's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Activity
- The repository commit history shows a latest listed commit dated March 10, 2025.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Audience
- The README describes the tool as being for developers who want to improve their writing.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Checks
- Built-in checks cover passive voice, repeated words, sentence-opening phrases, weasel words, adverbs, wordiness, clichés, and to-be verbs.checked 4 Oct 2026
- CLI
- The command-line tool can lint glob patterns, text supplied directly, or text fetched from a remote file.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Customization
- Users can disable checks, whitelist phrases, and supply custom checks.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Docker
- The README documents running write-good using a Docker Hub image or a locally built image.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The project README lists integrations for Atom, Drafts, Obsidian, Visual Studio Code, Vim, Chrome, and Statick.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Language extensions
- The README lists schreib-gut as a basic German-language extension.checked 4 Oct 2026
- License
- The repository identifies the project as MIT licensed.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- write-good describes itself as a naive linter for English prose.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Requirements
- The package metadata specifies Node.js version 6 or later and npm version 5 or later.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Security
- The opened repository page shows a Security and quality section but states no security or compliance features in the README.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Suggestions
- Its JavaScript function accepts a string and returns an array of writing suggestions.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- The README asks users to open a pull request to add unlisted write-good extensions.checked 4 Oct 2026
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