diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index abaadc8b..8347cf69 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/alcortesm/tgz v0.0.0-20161220082320-9c5fe88206d7 // indirect
 	github.com/anmitsu/go-shlex v0.0.0-20161002113705-648efa622239 // indirect
 	github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.1 // indirect
+	github.com/deckarep/golang-set v1.7.1 // indirect
 	github.com/flynn/go-shlex v0.0.0-20150515145356-3f9db97f8568 // indirect
 	github.com/fsnotify/fsnotify v1.4.2 // indirect
 	github.com/gliderlabs/ssh v0.1.1 // indirect
@@ -12,11 +13,13 @@ require (
 	github.com/inconshreveable/mousetrap v1.0.0 // indirect
 	github.com/jbenet/go-context v0.0.0-20150711004518-d14ea06fba99 // indirect
 	github.com/kevinburke/ssh_config v0.0.0-20170525151105-fa48d7ff1cfb // indirect
-	github.com/kljensen/snowball v0.6.0
 	github.com/kr/pretty v0.1.0 // indirect
 	github.com/magiconair/properties v1.7.2 // indirect
+	github.com/mingrammer/commonregex v1.0.0 // indirect
 	github.com/mitchellh/go-homedir v0.0.0-20161203194507-b8bc1bf76747
 	github.com/mitchellh/mapstructure v0.0.0-20170523030023-d0303fe80992
+	github.com/montanaflynn/stats v0.5.0 // indirect
+	github.com/neurosnap/sentences v1.0.6 // indirect
 	github.com/pelletier/go-buffruneio v0.2.0 // indirect
 	github.com/pelletier/go-toml v1.0.0 // indirect
 	github.com/pkg/errors v0.8.0
@@ -35,7 +38,11 @@ require (
 	golang.org/x/net v0.0.0-20170629171032-1f9224279e98 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20170703210155-94b76065f2d2 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/text v0.0.0-20170630100924-2bf8f2a19ec0 // indirect
+	gonum.org/v1/gonum v0.0.0-20190119014124-d54847ab4dca // indirect
+	gonum.org/v1/netlib v0.0.0-20190119082159-9be13e02fd56 // indirect
 	gopkg.in/check.v1 v1.0.0-20180628173108-788fd7840127 // indirect
+	gopkg.in/jdkato/prose.v2 v2.0.0-20180825173540-767a23049b9e
+	gopkg.in/neurosnap/sentences.v1 v1.0.6 // indirect
 	gopkg.in/src-d/go-billy.v4 v4.0.1 // indirect
 	gopkg.in/src-d/go-git-fixtures.v3 v3.1.1 // indirect
 	gopkg.in/src-d/go-git.v4 v4.0.0
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 37961245..8b54d8bf 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ github.com/anmitsu/go-shlex v0.0.0-20161002113705-648efa622239 h1:kFOfPq6dUM1hTo
 github.com/anmitsu/go-shlex v0.0.0-20161002113705-648efa622239/go.mod h1:2FmKhYUyUczH0OGQWaF5ceTx0UBShxjsH6f8oGKYe2c=
 github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.1 h1:vj9j/u1bqnvCEfJOwUhtlOARqs3+rkHYY13jYWTU97c=
 github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.1/go.mod h1:J7Y8YcW2NihsgmVo/mv3lAwl/skON4iLHjSsI+c5H38=
+github.com/deckarep/golang-set v1.7.1 h1:SCQV0S6gTtp6itiFrTqI+pfmJ4LN85S1YzhDf9rTHJQ=
+github.com/deckarep/golang-set v1.7.1/go.mod h1:93vsz/8Wt4joVM7c2AVqh+YRMiUSc14yDtF28KmMOgQ=
 github.com/flynn/go-shlex v0.0.0-20150515145356-3f9db97f8568 h1:BHsljHzVlRcyQhjrss6TZTdY2VfCqZPbv5k3iBFa2ZQ=
 github.com/flynn/go-shlex v0.0.0-20150515145356-3f9db97f8568/go.mod h1:xEzjJPgXI435gkrCt3MPfRiAkVrwSbHsst4LCFVfpJc=
 github.com/fsnotify/fsnotify v1.4.2 h1:v5tKwtf2hNhBV24eNYfQ5UmvFOGlOCmRqk7/P1olxtk=
@@ -20,8 +22,6 @@ github.com/jbenet/go-context v0.0.0-20150711004518-d14ea06fba99 h1:BQSFePA1RWJOl
 github.com/jbenet/go-context v0.0.0-20150711004518-d14ea06fba99/go.mod h1:1lJo3i6rXxKeerYnT8Nvf0QmHCRC1n8sfWVwXF2Frvo=
 github.com/kevinburke/ssh_config v0.0.0-20170525151105-fa48d7ff1cfb h1:4qB7kGgjot2tlCOW66sJ+ai5tv81oIDM9t6cvyFTKLM=
 github.com/kevinburke/ssh_config v0.0.0-20170525151105-fa48d7ff1cfb/go.mod h1:CT57kijsi8u/K/BOFA39wgDQJ9CxiF4nAY/ojJ6r6mM=
-github.com/kljensen/snowball v0.6.0 h1:6DZLCcZeL0cLfodx+Md4/OLC6b/bfurWUOUGs1ydfOU=
-github.com/kljensen/snowball v0.6.0/go.mod h1:27N7E8fVU5H68RlUmnWwZCfxgt4POBJfENGMvNRhldw=
 github.com/kr/pretty v0.1.0 h1:L/CwN0zerZDmRFUapSPitk6f+Q3+0za1rQkzVuMiMFI=
 github.com/kr/pretty v0.1.0/go.mod h1:dAy3ld7l9f0ibDNOQOHHMYYIIbhfbHSm3C4ZsoJORNo=
 github.com/kr/pty v1.1.1/go.mod h1:pFQYn66WHrOpPYNljwOMqo10TkYh1fy3cYio2l3bCsQ=
@@ -29,10 +29,16 @@ github.com/kr/text v0.1.0 h1:45sCR5RtlFHMR4UwH9sdQ5TC8v0qDQCHnXt+kaKSTVE=
 github.com/kr/text v0.1.0/go.mod h1:4Jbv+DJW3UT/LiOwJeYQe1efqtUx/iVham/4vfdArNI=
 github.com/magiconair/properties v1.7.2 h1:de14gtQSJmD380aERiT7g/BPsA0iDosrVRaU+EhZAio=
 github.com/magiconair/properties v1.7.2/go.mod h1:PppfXfuXeibc/6YijjN8zIbojt8czPbwD3XqdrwzmxQ=
+github.com/mingrammer/commonregex v1.0.0 h1:0nTEyFI+CKWog0IWbyP8jFwgdd+JZ30UYfYce/lG/9w=
+github.com/mingrammer/commonregex v1.0.0/go.mod h1:GQen+jIfhWmXmDCzNk4ucLO8VUMxJO5QPWZ2RPwrS3A=
 github.com/mitchellh/go-homedir v0.0.0-20161203194507-b8bc1bf76747 h1:eQox4Rh4ewJF+mqYPxCkmBAirRnPaHEB26UkNuPyjlk=
 github.com/mitchellh/go-homedir v0.0.0-20161203194507-b8bc1bf76747/go.mod h1:SfyaCUpYCn1Vlf4IUYiD9fPX4A5wJrkLzIz1N1q0pr0=
 github.com/mitchellh/mapstructure v0.0.0-20170523030023-d0303fe80992 h1:W7VHAEVflA5/eTyRvQ53Lz5j8bhRd1myHZlI/IZFvbU=
 github.com/mitchellh/mapstructure v0.0.0-20170523030023-d0303fe80992/go.mod h1:FVVH3fgwuzCH5S8UJGiWEs2h04kUh9fWfEaFds41c1Y=
+github.com/montanaflynn/stats v0.5.0 h1:2EkzeTSqBB4V4bJwWrt5gIIrZmpJBcoIRGS2kWLgzmk=
+github.com/montanaflynn/stats v0.5.0/go.mod h1:wL8QJuTMNUDYhXwkmfOly8iTdp5TEcJFWZD2D7SIkUc=
+github.com/neurosnap/sentences v1.0.6 h1:iBVUivNtlwGkYsJblWV8GGVFmXzZzak907Ci8aA0VTE=
+github.com/neurosnap/sentences v1.0.6/go.mod h1:pg1IapvYpWCJJm/Etxeh0+gtMf1rI1STY9S7eUCPbDc=
 github.com/pelletier/go-buffruneio v0.2.0 h1:U4t4R6YkofJ5xHm3dJzuRpPZ0mr5MMCoAWooScCR7aA=
 github.com/pelletier/go-buffruneio v0.2.0/go.mod h1:JkE26KsDizTr40EUHkXVtNPvgGtbSNq5BcowyYOWdKo=
 github.com/pelletier/go-toml v1.0.0 h1:QFDlmAXZrfPXEF6c9+15fMqhQIS3O0pxszhnk936vg4=
@@ -63,14 +69,25 @@ github.com/xanzy/ssh-agent v0.1.0 h1:lOhdXLxtmYjaHc76ZtNmJWPg948y/RnT+3N3cvKWFzY
 github.com/xanzy/ssh-agent v0.1.0/go.mod h1:0NyE30eGUDliuLEHJgYte/zncp2zdTStcOnWhgSqHD8=
 golang.org/x/crypto v0.0.0-20170703161049-69be088f8606 h1:i72l9b8scUpp6IdZyG/amRbdITs8cYMY5HnSypqSt5I=
 golang.org/x/crypto v0.0.0-20170703161049-69be088f8606/go.mod h1:6SG95UA2DQfeDnfUPMdvaQW0Q7yPrPDi9nlGo2tz2b4=
+golang.org/x/exp v0.0.0-20180321215751-8460e604b9de h1:xSjD6HQTqT0H/k60N5yYBtnN1OEkVy7WIo/DYyxKRO0=
+golang.org/x/exp v0.0.0-20180321215751-8460e604b9de/go.mod h1:CJ0aWSM057203Lf6IL+f9T1iT9GByDxfZKAQTCR3kQA=
 golang.org/x/net v0.0.0-20170629171032-1f9224279e98 h1:7wZTjEl3uuLKP9GWY+XYHTXYLUtBChvsVHCNZBouFMA=
 golang.org/x/net v0.0.0-20170629171032-1f9224279e98/go.mod h1:mL1N/T3taQHkDXs73rZJwtUhF3w3ftmwwsq0BUmARs4=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20170703210155-94b76065f2d2 h1:t5pPVtKY5FQGuFxgVhQzf4GN4yt7pMhcjKkJ6NIB5Ec=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20170703210155-94b76065f2d2/go.mod h1:STP8DvDyc/dI5b8T5hshtkjS+E42TnysNCUPdjciGhY=
 golang.org/x/text v0.0.0-20170630100924-2bf8f2a19ec0 h1:M4kywXOhV3F38kTr0IZZYueKhR5dVnpaVmGSeYrklJY=
 golang.org/x/text v0.0.0-20170630100924-2bf8f2a19ec0/go.mod h1:NqM8EUOU14njkJ3fqMW+pc6Ldnwhi/IjpwHt7yyuwOQ=
+golang.org/x/tools v0.0.0-20180525024113-a5b4c53f6e8b/go.mod h1:n7NCudcB/nEzxVGmLbDWY5pfWTLqBcC2KZ6jyYvM4mQ=
+gonum.org/v1/gonum v0.0.0-20190119014124-d54847ab4dca h1:n0S76j3sXlixKdU/XYIBVb1s3hPsZCiZ+oQmPH+r3gQ=
+gonum.org/v1/gonum v0.0.0-20190119014124-d54847ab4dca/go.mod h1:Y+Yx5eoAFn32cQvJDxZx5Dpnq+c3wtXuadVZAcxbbBo=
+gonum.org/v1/netlib v0.0.0-20190119082159-9be13e02fd56 h1:sWo7pRubEwovyVnbgs3VJpe4ppUGSLbu/zNPyCBXtHE=
+gonum.org/v1/netlib v0.0.0-20190119082159-9be13e02fd56/go.mod h1:wa6Ws7BG/ESfp6dHfk7C6KdzKA7wR7u/rKwOGE66zvw=
 gopkg.in/check.v1 v1.0.0-20180628173108-788fd7840127 h1:qIbj1fsPNlZgppZ+VLlY7N33q108Sa+fhmuc+sWQYwY=
 gopkg.in/check.v1 v1.0.0-20180628173108-788fd7840127/go.mod h1:Co6ibVJAznAaIkqp8huTwlJQCZ016jof/cbN4VW5Yz0=
+gopkg.in/jdkato/prose.v2 v2.0.0-20180825173540-767a23049b9e h1:yDDVJ347kU7Ro+H2CRgKmAEbFXfHwjyPuXgVd6H+3N8=
+gopkg.in/jdkato/prose.v2 v2.0.0-20180825173540-767a23049b9e/go.mod h1:1uCyb8jSeRMeIfMJgVyxYssmCTAlxLBkueX+Iu2UilA=
+gopkg.in/neurosnap/sentences.v1 v1.0.6 h1:v7ElyP020iEZQONyLld3fHILHWOPs+ntzuQTNPkul8E=
+gopkg.in/neurosnap/sentences.v1 v1.0.6/go.mod h1:YlK+SN+fLQZj+kY3r8DkGDhDr91+S3JmTb5LSxFRQo0=
 gopkg.in/src-d/go-billy.v4 v4.0.1 h1:iMxwQPj2cuKRyaIZ985zxClkcdTtT5VpXYf4PTJc0Ek=
 gopkg.in/src-d/go-billy.v4 v4.0.1/go.mod h1:ZHSF0JP+7oD97194otDUCD7Ofbk63+xFcfWP5bT6h+Q=
 gopkg.in/src-d/go-git-fixtures.v3 v3.1.1 h1:XWW/s5W18RaJpmo1l0IYGqXKuJITWRFuA45iOf1dKJs=
diff --git a/internal/policy/commit/blacklist.go b/internal/policy/commit/blacklist.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 56e11495..00000000
--- a/internal/policy/commit/blacklist.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,84 +0,0 @@
-/* This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public
- * License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this
- * file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/. */
-
-package commit
-
-// BlackList is the set of black listed imperative verbs.
-var BlackList = []string{
-	"a",
-	"an",
-	"the",
-	"action",
-	"always",
-	"api",
-	"base",
-	"basic",
-	"business",
-	"calculation",
-	"callback",
-	"collection",
-	"common",
-	"constructor",
-	"convenience",
-	"convenient",
-	"current",
-	"currently",
-	"custom",
-	"data",
-	"data",
-	"default",
-	"deprecated",
-	"description",
-	"dict",
-	"dictionary",
-	"does",
-	"dummy",
-	"example",
-	"factory",
-	"false",
-	"final",
-	"formula",
-	"function",
-	"generic",
-	"handler",
-	"handler",
-	"helper",
-	"here",
-	"hook",
-	"implementation",
-	"importantly",
-	"internal",
-	"it",
-	"main",
-	"method",
-	"module",
-	"new",
-	"number",
-	"optional",
-	"package",
-	"placeholder",
-	"reference",
-	"result",
-	"same",
-	"schema",
-	"setup",
-	"should",
-	"simple",
-	"some",
-	"special",
-	"sql",
-	"standard",
-	"static",
-	"string",
-	"subclasses",
-	"that",
-	"these",
-	"this",
-	"true",
-	"unique",
-	"unit",
-	"utility",
-	"what",
-	"wrapper",
-}
diff --git a/internal/policy/commit/commit.go b/internal/policy/commit/commit.go
index e3d641d5..c5ec527f 100644
--- a/internal/policy/commit/commit.go
+++ b/internal/policy/commit/commit.go
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/autonomy/conform/internal/git"
 	"github.com/autonomy/conform/internal/policy"
-	"github.com/kljensen/snowball"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
+	prose "gopkg.in/jdkato/prose.v2"
 )
 
 // Commit implements the policy.Policy interface and enforces commit
@@ -159,23 +159,18 @@ func ValidateGPGSign(report *policy.Report, g *git.Git) {
 
 // ValidateImperative checks the commit message for a GPG signature.
 func ValidateImperative(report *policy.Report, word string) {
-	word = strings.ToLower(word)
-	for _, good := range WhiteList {
-		stemmed, err := snowball.Stem(good, "english", true)
-		if err != nil {
-			report.Errors = append(report.Errors, errors.Errorf("Error checking for imperative mood: %v", err))
-		}
-		if word == stemmed {
-			return
-		}
+	doc, _ := prose.NewDocument("I " + word)
+	if len(doc.Tokens()) != 2 {
+		report.Errors = append(report.Errors, errors.Errorf("Expected 2 words, got %d", len(doc.Tokens())))
+		return
 	}
-	for _, bad := range BlackList {
-		if word == bad {
-			report.Errors = append(report.Errors, errors.Errorf("Use of blacklisted imperative verb: %s", word))
-			return
+	tokens := doc.Tokens()
+	tok := tokens[1]
+	for _, tag := range []string{"VBD", "VBG", "VBZ"} {
+		if tok.Tag == tag {
+			report.Errors = append(report.Errors, errors.Errorf("First word of commit must be an imperative verb: %q", word))
 		}
 	}
-	report.Errors = append(report.Errors, errors.Errorf("Commit does not have imperative mood"))
 }
 
 // ValidateType returns the commit type.
diff --git a/internal/policy/commit/whitelist.go b/internal/policy/commit/whitelist.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 20da538d..00000000
--- a/internal/policy/commit/whitelist.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,236 +0,0 @@
-/* This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public
- * License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this
- * file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/. */
-
-package commit
-
-// WhiteList is the set of whitelisted imperative verbs.
-var WhiteList = []string{
-	"accept",
-	"access",
-	"add",
-	"adjust",
-	"aggregate",
-	"allow",
-	"append",
-	"apply",
-	"archive",
-	"assert",
-	"assign",
-	"attempt",
-	"authenticate",
-	"authorize",
-	"break",
-	"build",
-	"cache",
-	"calculate",
-	"call",
-	"cancel",
-	"capture",
-	"change",
-	"check",
-	"clean",
-	"clear",
-	"close",
-	"collect",
-	"combine",
-	"commit",
-	"compare",
-	"compute",
-	"configure",
-	"confirm",
-	"connect",
-	"construct",
-	"control",
-	"convert",
-	"copy",
-	"count",
-	"create",
-	"customize",
-	"declare",
-	"decode",
-	"decorate",
-	"define",
-	"delegate",
-	"delete",
-	"deprecate",
-	"derive",
-	"describe",
-	"detect",
-	"determine",
-	"display",
-	"download",
-	"drop",
-	"dump",
-	"emit",
-	"empty",
-	"enable",
-	"encapsulate",
-	"encode",
-	"end",
-	"ensure",
-	"enumerate",
-	"establish",
-	"evaluate",
-	"examine",
-	"execute",
-	"exit",
-	"expand",
-	"expect",
-	"export",
-	"extend",
-	"extract",
-	"feed",
-	"fetch",
-	"fill",
-	"filter",
-	"finalize",
-	"find",
-	"fire",
-	"fix",
-	"flag",
-	"force",
-	"format",
-	"forward",
-	"generate",
-	"get",
-	"give",
-	"go",
-	"group",
-	"handle",
-	"help",
-	"hold",
-	"identify",
-	"implement",
-	"import",
-	"indicate",
-	"init",
-	"initalise",
-	"initialise",
-	"initialize",
-	"input",
-	"insert",
-	"instantiate",
-	"intercept",
-	"invoke",
-	"iterate",
-	"join",
-	"keep",
-	"launch",
-	"list",
-	"listen",
-	"load",
-	"log",
-	"look",
-	"make",
-	"manage",
-	"manipulate",
-	"map",
-	"mark",
-	"match",
-	"merge",
-	"mock",
-	"modify",
-	"monitor",
-	"move",
-	"normalize",
-	"note",
-	"obtain",
-	"open",
-	"output",
-	"override",
-	"overwrite",
-	"pad",
-	"parse",
-	"partial",
-	"pass",
-	"perform",
-	"persist",
-	"pick",
-	"plot",
-	"poll",
-	"populate",
-	"post",
-	"prepare",
-	"print",
-	"process",
-	"produce",
-	"provide",
-	"publish",
-	"pull",
-	"put",
-	"query",
-	"raise",
-	"read",
-	"record",
-	"refer",
-	"refresh",
-	"register",
-	"reload",
-	"remove",
-	"rename",
-	"render",
-	"replace",
-	"reply",
-	"report",
-	"represent",
-	"request",
-	"require",
-	"reset",
-	"resolve",
-	"retrieve",
-	"return",
-	"roll",
-	"rollback",
-	"round",
-	"run",
-	"sample",
-	"save",
-	"scan",
-	"search",
-	"select",
-	"send",
-	"serialise",
-	"serialize",
-	"serve",
-	"set",
-	"show",
-	"simulate",
-	"source",
-	"specify",
-	"split",
-	"start",
-	"step",
-	"stop",
-	"store",
-	"strip",
-	"submit",
-	"subscribe",
-	"sum",
-	"swap",
-	"sync",
-	"synchronise",
-	"synchronize",
-	"take",
-	"tear",
-	"test",
-	"time",
-	"transform",
-	"translate",
-	"transmit",
-	"truncate",
-	"try",
-	"turn",
-	"tweak",
-	"update",
-	"upload",
-	"use",
-	"validate",
-	"verify",
-	"view",
-	"wait",
-	"walk",
-	"wrap",
-	"write",
-	"yield",
-}