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. passive voice? Please leave your comments and opinions below.Center for writing | student writing support | style | active vs. In your writing, which do you choose when it comes to active vs. The key to writing with the right style is making deliberate choices.ĭo You Prefer Active or Passive Voice in Writing? Also, passive voice allows a writer to emphasize the action rather than the actor. For example, scientific writing often relies on passive voice to evoke a sense of subjectivity and authority. Is Passive Voice Totally Off Limits?Īlthough seasoned writers usually prefer active voice, passive voice still has a place. Passive: The apartments were cared for by a property management company. Passive: Connor will be hit by a car if he isn’t careful. Passive: Your application must be completed by June 1st. Active: If you want to be a millionaire, start saving now. passive voice examples, the “to be” verbs are highlighted in red.Īctive: There were hundreds of kids running around. All passive voice sentences use “to be” verbs, but not all “to be” sentences are in passive voice. Have you ever heard that a square is a rectangle, but a rectangle is not always a square? Or that all puppies are dogs, but not all dogs are puppies? It is the same with passive voice. How Do the ‘To Be’ Verbs Play Into Active Vs. Passive: Gifts were given by all of the guests. Passive: Jason is passed by Chris.Īctive: Peter received gifts from all of his guests. Here are some simple examples of passive vs. With passive voice, the subject receives the action. With active voice, the subject performs the action. It is often much more engaging, and less pretentious than passive voice. Active voice facilitates clear and concise communication. If using passive voice has become a major part of your rhetorical strategy, there are several reasons to drop the habit. Sometimes that means sacrificing a little piece of what you consider your “unique style.” This includes your current view on active vs. Once you start writing professionally, you commit to a different kind of accountability.įor instance, if you write for a content writing service like BKA Content, it is important to follow the company style guide, as well as any additional guidelines that the client requests. Not only do you choose your own topic, but you also have total creative control over everything that ends up on the page. When you write for pleasure, you have complete autonomy over your style.
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