active vs. passive voice

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Problem

Beginning or inattentive writers tend to overuse passive voice, which can weaken their prose, lead to the omission of important information, and make them appear unsure of their ideas. When instructors draw attention to the problem, some students overcompensate, eliminating all passive voice from their writing.

Although academic writers often favor active voice because it is direct and concise, both voices are useful and necessary. That is why the grammar check on word processing programs highlights all passive constructions—because it gives writers a chance to consider whether each choice is appropriate according to the purpose of the sentence.

Solutions

UNDERSTAND HOW BOTH ACTIVE AND PASSIVE SENTENCES ARE STRUCTURED.

Active Voice: The subject of the sentence is the one doing the action.

• The researchers compared the behavior of two groups of children.
• The clerk was helping the customer.
• Students need good study skills to succeed in college.
• You should tell him.

Passive Voice: The subject of the sentence is now being acted upon. The actor moves to the end of the sentence with by or drops off altogether if it is unimportant or unknown. The verb must include a form of be, followed by a past participle (normally an -ed ending).

• The behavior of two groups of children was compared (by the researchers).
• The customer was being helped (by the clerk).
• Good study skills are needed to succeed in college.
• He should be told.

Only verbs that are followed by an object can be used in the passive. It is not possible to use verbs such as come, exist, happen, seem, and sleep (intransitive verbs) in the passive.

Wrong:
Something was happened.
Correct:
Something happened.

Use ACTIVE VOICE unless there is a good reason not to.

Active voice can make your writing more vivid, in part because it requires strong, active verbs.

Passive (weak):  
The coast was ravaged by the storm.
Active (vivid):  
The storm ravaged the coast.

Passive (weak):
Attitudes were formed after the plaintiff’s testimony.
Active (vivid):  
The plaintiff’s testimony influenced the jury’s attitude.

Active voice adds clarity and places responsibility where it belongs. It lets us know exactly who did (or said) what to whom.

Passive:
The students were advised to go to the Center for Writing.
Active:
The instructor advised her students to go to the Center for Writing.

Passive:  
When Iraq was invaded, many civilians were killed inadvertently.
Active:  
When U.S. troops invaded Iraq, they inadvertently killed many civilians.

Know when PASSIVE VOICE is appropriate or preferred.

All of the examples below are choices based on style and rhetorical context, not strict grammar rules.

• To focus attention on the process, as in scientific or technical writing.

  Next, salicylic acid is added to the test tube.

• To focus attention on the object, rather than the actor.

  Paper, the main writing material today, was invented by the Chinese. (more appropriate in a paragraph about the history of paper, rather than a paragraph about various accomplishments of the Chinese)

  The new highway will be completed sometime next month. (focus is on the highway, not on the workers)

• To place old information before the new for a smoother connection between sentences.

When interviewing for a job, avoid making grammatical errors. They are often used by employers to weed out job applicants.

For more grammar information:

Azar, Betty Schrampfer. Understanding and Using English Grammar. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1989. 120,123, 130.

For more usage information:

Anson, Chris M., Robert A. Schwegler, and Marcia F. Muth. The Longman Writer’s Companion. New York: Longman, 2000.

Miles, Robert, Marc Bertonasco, and William Karns. Prose Style: A Contemporary Guide. 2nd ed. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1991. 48-49.

Williams, Joseph M. Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace. 6th ed. New York: Longman, 2000. 79-85.