diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 45bc8cc..c05d4cd 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -87,6 +87,24 @@ To double check which configuration is being used, invoke
 dotnet document config
 ```
 
+If you wish to exclude private members, properties, or methods modify your configuration file like:
+
+```yaml
+class:
+  ...
+  exclude_private: true
+method:
+  ...
+  exclude_private: true
+property:
+  ...
+  exclude_private: true
+default_member:
+  ...
+  exclude_private: true
+
+```
+
 > 👉 Folder based configuration discovery is not yet supported
 
 ## Acknowledgments
diff --git a/src/DotnetDocument.Tools/Handlers/ApplyDocumentHandler.cs b/src/DotnetDocument.Tools/Handlers/ApplyDocumentHandler.cs
index 7078de2..46fc5ee 100644
--- a/src/DotnetDocument.Tools/Handlers/ApplyDocumentHandler.cs
+++ b/src/DotnetDocument.Tools/Handlers/ApplyDocumentHandler.cs
@@ -110,10 +110,17 @@ public Result Apply(string? path, bool isDryRun)
 
                 // Replace the 
                 var changedSyntaxTree = root.ReplaceNodes(_walker.NodesWithoutXmlDoc,
-                    (node, syntaxNode) => _serviceResolver
-                        .Resolve(syntaxNode.Kind().ToString())
-                        ?
-                        .Apply(syntaxNode) ?? syntaxNode);
+                    (node, syntaxNode) =>
+                    {
+                        var strategy = _serviceResolver.Resolve(syntaxNode.Kind().ToString());
+
+                        if (strategy != null && strategy.ShouldDocument(syntaxNode))
+                        {
+                            return strategy.Apply(syntaxNode);
+                        }
+
+                        return syntaxNode;
+                    });
 
                 // TODO: Don't write if no changes
 
@@ -164,14 +171,24 @@ private IEnumerable<MemberDocumentationStatus> GetFileDocumentationStatus(string
 
             foreach (var node in _walker.NodesWithoutXmlDoc)
             {
-                var nodeWithDoc = _serviceResolver
-                    .Resolve(node.Kind().ToString())
-                    ?
-                    .Apply(node);
-
-                yield return new MemberDocumentationStatus(filePath, SyntaxUtils.FindMemberIdentifier(node),
-                    node.Kind(), false, node, nodeWithDoc,
-                    node.GetLocation().GetLineSpan().StartLinePosition.ToString());
+                var docStrategy = _serviceResolver.Resolve(node.Kind().ToString());
+                var shouldDocument = docStrategy?.ShouldDocument(node);
+
+                // Check if we should document the node
+                if (shouldDocument.HasValue && shouldDocument.Value)
+                {
+                    var nodeWithDoc = docStrategy?.Apply(node);
+
+                    yield return new MemberDocumentationStatus(filePath, SyntaxUtils.FindMemberIdentifier(node),
+                        node.Kind(), false, node, nodeWithDoc,
+                        node.GetLocation().GetLineSpan().StartLinePosition.ToString());
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    yield return new MemberDocumentationStatus(filePath, SyntaxUtils.FindMemberIdentifier(node),
+                        node.Kind(), true, null, node,
+                        node.GetLocation().GetLineSpan().StartLinePosition.ToString());
+                }
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/src/DotnetDocument/Configuration/DocumentationOptions.cs b/src/DotnetDocument/Configuration/DocumentationOptions.cs
index 67a3f02..4574037 100644
--- a/src/DotnetDocument/Configuration/DocumentationOptions.cs
+++ b/src/DotnetDocument/Configuration/DocumentationOptions.cs
@@ -18,6 +18,19 @@ public abstract class MemberDocumentationOptionsBase
         /// </summary>
         public bool Required { get; init; } = true;
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets or inits the value of the exclude private
+        /// </summary>
+        public IEnumerable<string> AccessModifiers { get; init; } = new List<string>
+        {
+            "public",
+            "internal",
+            "private",
+            "protected",
+            "protected private",
+            "protected internal",
+        };
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Gets the syntax kind
         /// </summary>
diff --git a/src/DotnetDocument/Extensions/MemberDeclarationSyntaxExtensions.cs b/src/DotnetDocument/Extensions/MemberDeclarationSyntaxExtensions.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5dae0c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/DotnetDocument/Extensions/MemberDeclarationSyntaxExtensions.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+using System;
+using System.Linq;
+using DotnetDocument.Configuration;
+using DotnetDocument.Syntax;
+using Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.CSharp.Syntax;
+
+namespace DotnetDocument.Extensions
+{
+    public static class MemberDeclarationSyntaxExtensions
+    {
+        public static bool ShouldDocument(this MemberDeclarationSyntax node, MemberDocumentationOptionsBase options)
+        {
+            var shouldDocument = false;
+
+            foreach (var modifier in options.AccessModifiers)
+            {
+                var modifierArray = modifier.Split(" ");
+
+                if (node != null)
+                {
+                    if (modifierArray.Length > 1)
+                    {
+                        if (node.Modifiers.Any(m => m.Text.Equals(modifierArray[0], StringComparison.Ordinal)) &&
+                            node.Modifiers.Any(m => m.Text.Equals(modifierArray[1], StringComparison.Ordinal)) &&
+                            !SyntaxUtils.IsDocumented(node))
+                        {
+                            shouldDocument = true;
+
+                            break;
+                        }
+
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        if (node.Modifiers.All(m => m.Text.Equals(modifier, StringComparison.Ordinal)) &&
+                            !SyntaxUtils.IsDocumented(node))
+                        {
+                            shouldDocument = true;
+
+                            break;
+                        }
+
+                        if (node.Modifiers.Any() && node.Modifiers[0].Text.Equals(modifier, StringComparison.Ordinal) &&
+                            !SyntaxUtils.IsDocumented(node))
+                        {
+                            shouldDocument = true;
+
+                            break;
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            return shouldDocument;
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/Abstractions/DocumentationStrategyBase.cs b/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/Abstractions/DocumentationStrategyBase.cs
index be37679..02aac7c 100644
--- a/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/Abstractions/DocumentationStrategyBase.cs
+++ b/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/Abstractions/DocumentationStrategyBase.cs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 using DotnetDocument.Syntax;
 using Microsoft.CodeAnalysis;
 using Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.CSharp;
+using Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.CSharp.Syntax;
 
 namespace DotnetDocument.Strategies.Abstractions
 {
@@ -18,6 +19,11 @@ public abstract class DocumentationStrategyBase<T> : IDocumentationStrategy wher
         /// <returns>An enumerable of syntax kind</returns>
         public abstract IEnumerable<SyntaxKind> GetSupportedKinds();
 
+        public bool ShouldDocument(SyntaxNode node) =>
+            ShouldDocument(node as T ?? throw new InvalidOperationException());
+
+        public abstract bool ShouldDocument(T node);
+        
         /// <summary>
         /// Applies the node
         /// </summary>
diff --git a/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/Abstractions/IDocumentationStrategy.cs b/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/Abstractions/IDocumentationStrategy.cs
index 64ca384..d0ed84e 100644
--- a/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/Abstractions/IDocumentationStrategy.cs
+++ b/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/Abstractions/IDocumentationStrategy.cs
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ namespace DotnetDocument.Strategies.Abstractions
     /// </summary>
     public interface IDocumentationStrategy
     {
+        bool ShouldDocument(SyntaxNode node);
         /// <summary>
         /// Gets the supported kinds
         /// </summary>
diff --git a/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/ClassDocumentationStrategy.cs b/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/ClassDocumentationStrategy.cs
index 2a37d1a..b7463ed 100644
--- a/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/ClassDocumentationStrategy.cs
+++ b/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/ClassDocumentationStrategy.cs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Linq;
 using DotnetDocument.Configuration;
+using DotnetDocument.Extensions;
 using DotnetDocument.Format;
 using DotnetDocument.Strategies.Abstractions;
 using DotnetDocument.Syntax;
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ public class ClassDocumentationStrategy : DocumentationStrategyBase<ClassDeclara
         /// </summary>
         private readonly ClassDocumentationOptions _options;
 
+        public override bool ShouldDocument(ClassDeclarationSyntax node) => node.ShouldDocument(_options);
         /// <summary>
         /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="ClassDocumentationStrategy" /> class
         /// </summary>
diff --git a/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/ConstructorDocumentationStrategy.cs b/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/ConstructorDocumentationStrategy.cs
index 0c763e6..45499af 100644
--- a/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/ConstructorDocumentationStrategy.cs
+++ b/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/ConstructorDocumentationStrategy.cs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Linq;
 using DotnetDocument.Configuration;
+using DotnetDocument.Extensions;
 using DotnetDocument.Format;
 using DotnetDocument.Strategies.Abstractions;
 using DotnetDocument.Syntax;
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ public class ConstructorDocumentationStrategy : DocumentationStrategyBase<Constr
         /// </summary>
         private readonly CtorDocumentationOptions _options;
 
+        public override bool ShouldDocument(ConstructorDeclarationSyntax node) => node.ShouldDocument(_options);
         /// <summary>
         /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="ConstructorDocumentationStrategy" /> class
         /// </summary>
diff --git a/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/DefaultDocumentationStrategy.cs b/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/DefaultDocumentationStrategy.cs
index 0099176..f0ccefa 100644
--- a/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/DefaultDocumentationStrategy.cs
+++ b/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/DefaultDocumentationStrategy.cs
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Linq;
 using DotnetDocument.Configuration;
+using DotnetDocument.Extensions;
 using DotnetDocument.Format;
 using DotnetDocument.Strategies.Abstractions;
 using DotnetDocument.Syntax;
@@ -36,6 +38,7 @@ public class DefaultDocumentationStrategy : DocumentationStrategyBase<MemberDecl
         /// </summary>
         private readonly DefaultMemberDocumentationOptions _options;
 
+        public override bool ShouldDocument(MemberDeclarationSyntax node) => node.ShouldDocument(_options);
         /// <summary>
         /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="DefaultDocumentationStrategy" /> class
         /// </summary>
diff --git a/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/EnumDocumentationStrategy.cs b/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/EnumDocumentationStrategy.cs
index 08cd3f3..905cb22 100644
--- a/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/EnumDocumentationStrategy.cs
+++ b/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/EnumDocumentationStrategy.cs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using DotnetDocument.Configuration;
+using DotnetDocument.Extensions;
 using DotnetDocument.Format;
 using DotnetDocument.Strategies.Abstractions;
 using Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.CSharp;
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ public class EnumDocumentationStrategy : DocumentationStrategyBase<EnumDeclarati
         /// </summary>
         private readonly EnumDocumentationOptions _options;
 
+        public override bool ShouldDocument(EnumDeclarationSyntax node) => node.ShouldDocument(_options);
         /// <summary>
         /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="EnumDocumentationStrategy" /> class
         /// </summary>
diff --git a/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/EnumMemberDocumentationStrategy.cs b/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/EnumMemberDocumentationStrategy.cs
index 1b41999..563b830 100644
--- a/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/EnumMemberDocumentationStrategy.cs
+++ b/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/EnumMemberDocumentationStrategy.cs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using DotnetDocument.Configuration;
+using DotnetDocument.Extensions;
 using DotnetDocument.Format;
 using DotnetDocument.Strategies.Abstractions;
 using Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.CSharp;
@@ -30,6 +31,13 @@ public class EnumMemberDocumentationStrategy : DocumentationStrategyBase<EnumMem
         /// </summary>
         private readonly EnumMemberDocumentationOptions _options;
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// 
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="node"></param>
+        /// <returns></returns>
+        public override bool ShouldDocument(EnumMemberDeclarationSyntax node) => node.ShouldDocument(_options);
+        
         /// <summary>
         /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="EnumMemberDocumentationStrategy" /> class
         /// </summary>
diff --git a/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/InterfaceDocumentationStrategy.cs b/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/InterfaceDocumentationStrategy.cs
index 85bf8b2..95cc3f6 100644
--- a/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/InterfaceDocumentationStrategy.cs
+++ b/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/InterfaceDocumentationStrategy.cs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Linq;
 using DotnetDocument.Configuration;
+using DotnetDocument.Extensions;
 using DotnetDocument.Format;
 using DotnetDocument.Strategies.Abstractions;
 using DotnetDocument.Syntax;
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ public class InterfaceDocumentationStrategy : DocumentationStrategyBase<Interfac
         /// </summary>
         private readonly InterfaceDocumentationOptions _options;
 
+        public override bool ShouldDocument(InterfaceDeclarationSyntax node) => node.ShouldDocument(_options);
         /// <summary>
         /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="InterfaceDocumentationStrategy" /> class
         /// </summary>
@@ -51,6 +53,7 @@ public override IEnumerable<SyntaxKind> GetSupportedKinds() => new[]
             SyntaxKind.InterfaceDeclaration
         };
 
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Applies the node
         /// </summary>
diff --git a/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/MethodDocumentationStrategy.cs b/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/MethodDocumentationStrategy.cs
index d57b7b7..7b3279a 100644
--- a/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/MethodDocumentationStrategy.cs
+++ b/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/MethodDocumentationStrategy.cs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Linq;
 using DotnetDocument.Configuration;
+using DotnetDocument.Extensions;
 using DotnetDocument.Format;
 using DotnetDocument.Strategies.Abstractions;
 using DotnetDocument.Syntax;
@@ -52,6 +53,8 @@ public override IEnumerable<SyntaxKind> GetSupportedKinds() => new[]
             SyntaxKind.MethodDeclaration
         };
 
+        public override bool ShouldDocument(MethodDeclarationSyntax node) => node.ShouldDocument(_options);
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Applies the node
         /// </summary>
diff --git a/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/PropertyDocumentationStrategy.cs b/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/PropertyDocumentationStrategy.cs
index ff5c6b6..03d6929 100644
--- a/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/PropertyDocumentationStrategy.cs
+++ b/src/DotnetDocument/Strategies/PropertyDocumentationStrategy.cs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Linq;
 using DotnetDocument.Configuration;
+using DotnetDocument.Extensions;
 using DotnetDocument.Format;
 using DotnetDocument.Strategies.Abstractions;
 using Humanizer;
@@ -32,6 +33,13 @@ public class PropertyDocumentationStrategy : DocumentationStrategyBase<PropertyD
         /// </summary>
         private readonly PropertyDocumentationOptions _options;
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// 
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="node"></param>
+        /// <returns></returns>
+        public override bool ShouldDocument(PropertyDeclarationSyntax node) => node.ShouldDocument(_options);
+        
         /// <summary>
         /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="PropertyDocumentationStrategy" /> class
         /// </summary>
diff --git a/src/DotnetDocument/Syntax/DocumentationSyntaxWalker.cs b/src/DotnetDocument/Syntax/DocumentationSyntaxWalker.cs
index 85aa0c3..3b1564a 100644
--- a/src/DotnetDocument/Syntax/DocumentationSyntaxWalker.cs
+++ b/src/DotnetDocument/Syntax/DocumentationSyntaxWalker.cs
@@ -26,6 +26,11 @@ public class DocumentationSyntaxWalker : CSharpSyntaxWalker
         /// Gets the value of the nodes with xml doc
         /// </summary>
         public IList<SyntaxNode> NodesWithXmlDoc { get; } = new List<SyntaxNode>();
+        
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets the value of all nodes
+        /// </summary>
+        public IList<SyntaxNode> AllNodes { get; } = new List<SyntaxNode>();
 
         /// <summary>
         /// Gets the value of the nodes without xml doc