Active vs Passive Voice

Active Voice

• Active voice describes sentence structure where the subject performs the action.
• The verb agrees with the subject in number and person.
• It's often preferred for clarity and directness.
• Example: "The dog chased the cat." (Dog is the subject, chases is the verb, and cat is the object.)
• Subject performs the action.

Passive Voice

• Passive voice describes sentence structure where the object of the action is emphasized.
• The subject receives the action, rather than performing it.
• The verb is in the passive form, typically using "to be" and a past participle.
• Example: "The cat was chased by the dog." (Cat is the subject, was chased is the verb, indicating receiving the action, and dog is the agent/indirect object.)
• Object receives the action.

Key Differences

• Subject emphasis: Active voice emphasizes the doer (subject), passive voice emphasizes the receiver (object).
• Verb form: Active uses standard verb forms, passive combines "to be" with past participles.
• Sentence structure: Active sentences are usually shorter and more direct than passive, which can sometimes require prepositional phrases.
• Clarity: Active voice is often preferred for quicker comprehension.
• Focus: Active focuses on the doer, passive focuses on the receiver or the action itself. This impacts the writing's tone and impact.

When to Use Active Voice

• General writing: Active voice is often best for clarity and readability.
• Emphasis on agency: Use active voice when needing to clearly show who or what is initiating an action.
• Conciseness: Active voice creates short, impactful sentences.

When to Use Passive Voice

• Emphasizing the action: Use passive voice to highlight the action more than the doer (e.g., "The report was finalized").
• Hiding the actor: Use passive voice to avoid mentioning or emphasize the actor (e.g., "Errors were found").
• Adding context: Use passive voice to add background information (e.g., "New developments were discussed").
• Technical/scientific writing: Sometimes passive voice is preferred for reporting or explaining processes.

Common Passive Voice Structures

• "The document was printed by John." (Subject: document, verb: was printed)
• "The emails were sent to all participants." (Subject: emails, verb: were sent)
• "The article is being written by a journalist." (Subject: article, verb: is being written)
• "The work has been completed." (Subject: work, verb: has been completed)

Avoiding Overuse of Passive Voice

• Consistent active voice improves clarity.
• Excessive passive voice can make writing convoluted.
• Use both voices strategically to maintain impact and agency.