This is appropriate when the focus is on the history of paper, not on Chinese innovations. Paper, the main writing material today, was invented by the Chinese. To focus attention on the object, rather than the actor. Next, salicylic acid was added to the test tube. To focus attention on the process or materials, rather than on the actor, as in scientific or technical writing. Know when passive voice is appropriate or preferred.Īll of the examples below are choices based on style and rhetorical context, not strict grammar rules. The passive voice would be appropriate if the writer did not think it was important for readers to know who did the actions in the sentence. In the above example, the active voice would be appropriate if the writer wanted to name or emphasize the actors ( U.S troops), not only their actions. Passive: When Iraq was invaded, many civilians were killed inadvertently. troops invaded Iraq, they inadvertently killed many civilians. When it is important that readers know exactly who did (or said) what to whom.Īctive: When U.S. The passive voice would be preferred if the writer wanted to focus readers’ attention on the whale, or on the fact that it is pursued relentlessly.

In the above example, the active voice would be preferred if the writer wanted to focus readers’ attention on Captain Ahab. (Or, The whale is pursued relentlessly by Captain Ahab.) Passive: The whale is pursued relentlessly. To focus readers’ attention on the actor, not what is being acted upon.Īctive: Captain Ahab pursues the whale relentlessly. Know when active voice is appropriate or preferred.Īll of the examples below are choices based on style and rhetorical context, not strict grammar rules. It is not possible to use verbs such as come, exist, happen, seem, and sleep (intransitive verbs) in the passive. Only verbs that are followed by an object can be used in the passive. Good study skills are needed to succeed in college. The customer was being helped (by the clerk). The behavior of two groups of children was compared (by the researchers). The verb must include a form of be, followed by a past participle (normally an -ed ending). The actor moves to the end of the sentence with by or drops off altogether if it is unimportant or unknown. Passive Voice: The subject of the sentence is now being acted upon.

Students need good study skills to succeed in college. The researchers compared the behavior of two groups of children. Solutions Understand how both active and passive sentences are structured.Īctive Voice: The subject of the sentence is the one doing the action. That is why the grammar check on word processing programs highlights all passive constructions-it gives writers a chance to consider whether each choice is appropriate according to the purpose of the sentence. When instructors draw attention to the problem, some students overcompensate, eliminating all passive voice from their writing.Īlthough many academic writers often favor active voice because it is direct and concise, both voices are useful and necessary. passive voice Problemīeginning 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. Center for writing | student writing support | style | active vs.

Active voice checker