Passive Voice In Writing

Introduction

As a student, you’ve likely encountered the terms “passive voice” and “active voice” in the realm of English writing. While these concepts may be familiar, grasping the nuances between them is essential for enhancing your writing skills.

In this blog post, we’ll delve into the definition of passive voice and equip you with tools to identify it within your writing. Through illustrative examples, we’ll explore situations where the passive voice is appropriately employed and instances where its usage may be less effective. Additionally, we’ll share valuable tips to help you steer clear of overusing passive voice, empowering you to craft clearer and more engaging prose. Join us on this journey as we unravel the intricacies of passive voice in writing.

What Is Passive Voice?

Passive voice is a grammatical structure in which the subject of a sentence receives the action of the verb instead of performing the action.

In passive voice sentences, the focus is on the action instead of the person or thing performing the action. For example, in “tickets are offered by an association” the focus is on the tickets being offered not on who offers the tickets.

The passive voice can be useful for emphasizing the object or the result of the action, but it can also make the sentence sound more complex or indirect.

Striking a balance is key, as an overreliance on passive voice may hinder clarity and impact in your writing.

Examples of Passive Voice

Here are some examples of passive voice sentences:

• The cake was baked by my mom. (Passive)
• My mom baked the cake. (Active)
• The book was written by Mark Twain. (Passive)
• Mark Twain wrote the book. (Active)

In each of the examples above, the subject (cake, book) is being acted upon by the verb (baked, written), rather than performing the action itself.

The following are authentic examples of passive voice in literature, journalism, and politics:

• “For West is where we all plan to go some day. It is where you go when the land gives out and the old-field pines encroach. It is where you go when you get the letter saying: Flee, all is discovered…” ― Robert Penn Warren, All the King’s Men
• “Yesterday, December 7, 1941 — a date which will live in infamy — the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” (This is the start of the famous announcement by President Roosevelt of the attack on Pearl Harbor.)
• “Mistakes were made“— U.S. President Richard Nixon used this passive voice several times in reference to wrongdoings by his own electoral organization and presidential administration.
• “However, it is understood no further action will be taken against the club.”— Independent

Active Voice vs. Passive Voice

While the subject of the passive sentence receives the action of the verb, rather than performs it, the subject of active voice sentences performs the action of the verb. 

Here are some examples of active voice sentences:

• The dog chased the cat. (Active)
• The teacher graded the papers. (Active)
• The company hired a new employee. (Active)

In each of these examples, the subject (dog, teacher, company) is performing the action of the verb (chased, graded, hired). Compare the above examples to:

• The cat was chased by the dog. (Passive)
• The papers were graded by the teacher. (Passive)
• A new employee was hired by the company. (Passive)

In each of these examples, the subject (cat, papers, new employee) receives the action of the verb (chased, graded, hired).

Which construction is better? Well, the active voice is generally considered more direct and clear than the passive voice for the simple reason that it emphasizes the person or thing performing the action rather than the object of the action.

When to use active and passive voice in writing

Teachers frequently advise against the use of passive voice structures by students. However, is it bad? Let’s acknowledge the reality – there are instances when the passive voice can find its fitting place in your writing.

As a student, you have to understand that using the passive voice in writing can have both advantages and disadvantages.

A. When to use the passive voice?

While active voice is generally preferred in most writing situations, sometimes the passive voice can be useful.

Here are a few examples:

1. To emphasize the object of the sentence:

If you want to give importance to the thing receiving the action instead of the person doing the action, the passive voice can be a good choice. Let’s illustrate this with an example

In the sentence:

• The cake was devoured by the hungry children.

The emphasis is on the action of the cake being devoured instead of the children devouring the cake!

2. To be vague about the agent of the action:

Sometimes you might want to be intentionally vague about who is performing the action. For example, “The building was vandalized last night” doesn’t specify who did the vandalization. This technique is often used in fiction or narratives. For example, many fiction writers often use the passive voice since it allows them to hide secrets when narrating their mystery stories.

3. To sound more formal (especially in scientific texts):

Passive voice is used in formal writing and may give a more academic tone to your writing. For example, “the experiment was conducted in a controlled environment” sounds more formal than “we conducted the experiment in a lab“.

B. When not to use the passive voice in writing

Yes, as shown above, there are times when the passive voice can be duly useful. But be careful! There are also instances where the passive voice is problematic.

Examples:

1. Lack of clarity:

Using the passive voice may make the message somewhat unclear. The reader may get a little confused about who is performing the action. The sentence “The door was opened” doesn’t specify who opened it. It may be more informative if the doer of the action was mentioned. Don’t you think so?

2. It can make the sentence longer (wordy) and more convoluted:

Passive voice can lead to longer, more complicated sentences that are harder to follow. For example, “the report was written by the intern, who was supervised by the manager, who had been hired by the CEO” is much longer and more convoluted than “the CEO hired the manager, who supervised the intern’s report“.

3. It can be less engaging:

Passive voice can make your writing less engaging, as it puts the focus on the thing being acted upon, rather than the person doing the action. Active voice is generally more engaging and direct.

How to use the passive voice effectively in writing?

A. You may use it when the focus is on the action rather than the doer:

Passive voice is useful when the action is more important than the person or thing performing the action. For example, “the building was destroyed by the hurricane” places emphasis on the building and the destruction, rather than the hurricane as the agent of the destruction.

B. When the identity of the doer is unknown or unimportant:

The passive voice is helpful when the doer is unknown or irrelevant. Here is an example:

You will certainly agree that the sentence:

• The bicycle was stolen.

is more appropriate than :

• Someone stole my bicycle.

This is particularly true if we don’t know the identity of the thief.

C. When the writer wants to sound objective:

Passive voice can make writing sound more objective and less subjective.

Example:

The sentence:

• It is widely believed that the earth is round.

is more objective than its active alternative:

• Most people believe that the earth is round.

D. When discussing a process:

The passive voice is effective when discussing a process or a series of actions. For example, “The data was analyzed, and the results were compared” places emphasis on the actions and the results, rather than the people performing them.

E. When the writer wants to avoid assigning blame:

The passive voice can be used to avoid assigning blame or responsibility. For example, “mistakes were made” is less accusatory than “you made mistakes.“

How to Recognize Passive Voice

To recognize the passive voice in your writing, look for the following indicators:

• It has a Be + PAST PARTICIPLE structure: A form of the verb “to be” (such as was, were, is, or are) followed by a past participle (such as baked, written, spoken, made, etc) characterizes the passive voice.
  • Example: The cake was baked by Jane.
    • (NOTE: The past participle usually ends in “-ed” or “-en”.)
• The object of the verb is placed before the verb: In a passive voice sentence, the object of the verb (the thing or person receiving the action) comes before the verb (i.e., it becomes the subject).
  • Example:
    – The boy kicked the ball. (Active)
    – The ball was kicked by the boy. (Passive)
    • “The ball” which is the object in the active voice becomes the subject of the sentence in the passive voice and thus comes before the verb.
• The doer of the action is not the subject of the sentence: In a passive sentence, the person or thing performing the action is not the subject of the sentence. Instead, a passive voice sentence turns the object into the subject and the doer of the action is often introduced by the preposition “by.”  Example: “The book was written by Jane” “Jane wrote the book” 
• It has a “by-phrase”:  If you see a “by-phrase” in your sentence, it might be a sign that you’re using passive voice. 

Tips for Avoiding Overusing Passive Voice In Your Writing

There are undeniably instances where it is advisable to avoid the passive voice. If your teacher asks you to do so, follow these tips.

A. Start with the subject.

Make the doer of the action the subject of the sentence.

Here is an example:

• Passive – The report was written by me.
• Active – I wrote the report.

B. Use strong verbs.

Instead of relying on the passive voice to indicate an action, use strong, active verbs to make the writing more engaging.

Example:

• Passive – The company was bought by another firm.
• Active – Another firm acquired the company.

C. Avoid using by-phrases.

Once you feel you are going to use a by-phrase in your sentence, this might be a sign that you are using passive voice. Avoid it! Consider transforming it into an active voice if there is no need for passive voice construction.

Example:

• Passive – The project was completed by the team.
• Active – The team completed the project.

The active voice form of the sentence here is much more appropriate.

D. Consider your audience.

If you are writing for a general audience, an active voice is usually preferred. If you’re writing for a more formal or technical audience, the passive voice might be more appropriate.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using the passive voice may lead to some common mistakes. Here are a few to avoid:

• Overusing passive voice. While passive voice has its place, overusing it can make your writing sound vague or indirect.
• Using passive voice to avoid responsibility. If you’re trying to avoid assigning blame or responsibility, it can be tempting to use passive voice. However, this can make your writing sound weak or evasive.
• Confusing passive voice with past tense. Passive voice refers to the structure of a sentence, while past tense refers to the timing of the action. Be sure not to confuse the two.
• Using passive voice with verbs that don’t make sense in the passive voice. For example, “she is lovingly kissed by him” instead of “he lovingly kisses her“.

The Importance of Editing

As with any aspect of writing, editing is essential when it comes to passive voice. Once you’ve finished your draft, go back and look for instances of passive voice. If they are not needed, try to rephrase them using active voice. This can help make your writing clearer and more engaging.

Conclusion

Passive voice is a common grammatical structure in English writing, but it’s important to understand its advantages and disadvantages. While it can be useful for emphasizing the object or result of an action, it can also make writing sound more complex or indirect. By using active voice and strong verbs, you can make your writing more engaging and clear.

FAQs

Related pages

• Passive voice
• Passive voice: exercise 1
• Passive voice: exercise 2
• Passive voice in writing