The passive voice often gets a bad reputation in academic writing. Critics frequently tout the mantra, “Avoid passive voice!” They argue that it is weak, indirect, and confusing. Yet, when used judiciously and combined with the right transition words, passive voice can be a powerful tool in writing. It is all about understanding when and how to use it effectively. Let’s explore the concept in detail.
In grammar, passive voice is a verb form in which the subject receives the action of the verb. It contrasts with the active voice, where the subject performs the action. Passive constructions are formed using the verb “to be” + the past participle of the main verb.
Active: The cheetah chased the deer.
Passive: The deer was chased by the cheetah.
Active: The student wrote the paper.
Passive: The paper was written by the student.
Active: The cleaner will clean the room.
Passive: The room will be cleaned by the cleaner.
In the passive voice examples, the focus shifts from the doer of the action (the cheetah, the student, the cleaner) to the recipient or target of the action (the deer, the paper, the room).
In English grammar, voice refers to the relationship between the subject and the verb in a sentence, specifically in terms of action. The two primary voices in English are the active and passive voices. Here is an overview of the differences between them:
There are several types of passive voice, each corresponding to different tenses and aspects in the active voice. Make sure to take care of first person pronouns while writing these sentences. Here are the main types:
The action is in the present, but the doer isn’t specified.
Active: They clean the car.
Passive: The car is cleaned.
An ongoing action in the present, in passive form.
Active: They are cleaning the car.
Passive: The car is being cleaned.
An action that was done in the past.
Active: They cleaned the car.
Passive: The car was cleaned.
An ongoing action in the past, in passive form.
Active: They were cleaning the car.
Passive: The car was being cleaned.
An action that has recently been completed.
Active: They have cleaned the car.
Passive: The car has been cleaned.
An action that had been completed before another past action.
Active: They had cleaned the car before the guests arrived.
Passive: The car had been cleaned before guests arrived.
An action that will be done in the future.
Active: They will clean the car.
Passive: The car will be cleaned.
An action that will be finished at some future point.
Active: They will have cleaned the car by then.
Passive: The car will have been cleaned by then.
Passive sentences that include modal verbs like can, could, should, might, etc.
Active: They can clean the car.
Passive: The car can be cleaned.
Avoiding passive voice can make your writing clearer and more direct. Here are some strategies and tips, integral to the academic writing process, to help you avoid passive voice:
Active voice: The subject performs the action.
Example: I cleaned the room.
Passive voice: The subject is acted upon.
Example: The room was cleaned by me.
Look for forms of “to be” verbs (is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been) followed by a past participle (often ending in -ed). For instance, “The book was read by Mary.”
To shift from passive to active, ask yourself who is performing the action. This can help you identify the true subject and rewrite the sentence.
Passive: A solution was discovered.
Active: The scientist discovered a solution.
Passive constructions often include “by” phrases to indicate the doer of the action. Reduce these phrases to shift to active voice.
Passive: The painting was admired by everyone.
Active: Everyone admired the painting.
You can often convert a passive sentence to an active one by rearranging the order of words, placing the “actor” or “doer” of the action as the subject.
Passive: The keys were lost by John.
Active: John lost the keys.
Opt for strong, direct verbs instead of passive constructions.
Passive: A decision was made.
Active: We decided.
Be conscious of passive voice while writing. Over time, recognising and avoiding it, along with other potential taboo words, will become second nature.
Many word processing software and online grammar checkers have built-in features that can highlight passive voice.
There are times when passive voice is appropriate or even preferable. For example, when the action is more important than the actor, or when the actor is unknown or irrelevant:
After writing, take the time to review and identify any passive constructions. This gives you a chance to convert them to active voice where appropriate.
The more you practice rewriting passive sentences into active ones, the more naturally you will gravitate towards active constructions in your initial writing.
Using passive voice in writing can be debated among linguists, writers, and educators. While over-relying on passive voice can make writing seem detached or impersonal, sometimes it’s appropriate and effective. Here are some instances when using passive voice might be fitting:
You might opt for passive voice if the action is more important than the person or entity performing it.
“A cure for the disease was discovered.” (It is more important that the cure was found than who found it.)
When we don’t know who the actor is, or it is not relevant to the context.
“The pyramids were built thousands of years ago.” (We do not know specifically who built them.)
Scientific writing, technical reports, and some bureaucratic documents often use passive voice to sound objective or neutral.
“The experiment was conducted using a 5% saline solution.”
Instead of placing blame, passive voice can deflect attention from the responsible party.
“Mistakes were made.” (Instead of saying, “He/She made mistakes.”)
To vary sentence structure and avoid monotony, writers might use passive voice alongside active voice.
“While the novel was universally praised, the author remained a mystery.”
In some narratives, like descriptive essays, the passive can create a particular mood or tone.
“The town was enveloped by a thick, eerie fog.”
In cases where the focus is on the recipient of an action rather than the doer.
“The award was received by Julia.”
In procedures or sequences where the emphasis is on the process.
“The eggs are beaten until they are frothy, then sugar is gradually added.”
With EssaysUK you get:
Passive voice has a particular place in academic writing, and its usage can vary based on discipline, writing conventions, and the intended effect of the prose. In some contexts, the passive voice is favoured, while in others, the active voice is preferred. Here is an overview of how passive voice functions in academic writing:
In many scientific and technical disciplines, passive voice is used to create an objective tone, reducing the emphasis on the researcher and highlighting the process or results.
Passive voice can help foreground the findings or results of research over the specific actions of the researcher.
Especially in lab reports or scientific writing, the specific agent (often the researcher) might be irrelevant to the audience.
In situations where assigning specific responsibility isn’t possible or desired, passive voice offers a way to discuss events or findings without naming an agent.
Maintaining that voice can improve flow and coherence in a document or section where passive voice is used for valid reasons.
Some academic disciplines have established conventions for using passive voice in certain contexts, and adhering to these can make your writing more aligned with expectations.
Passive voice occurs when the sentence’s subject receives the action rather than performing it. The focus shifts from the doer to the recipient of the action. Example: Active voice: “The cat chased the mouse.” Passive voice: “The mouse was chased by the cat.” In the passive, the action’s receiver becomes the subject.
The passive voice formula is:
Subject+be (in the appropriate tense)+past participle of main verb+(by + agent)
Subject+be (in the appropriate tense)+past participle of the main verb+(by + agent)
For example: Active: “She writes the book.” Passive: “The book is written (by her).”
Active voice emphasises the subject performing an action: “The chef cooked the meal.” The subject (chef) acts. In passive voice, the action’s focus shifts to the receiver: “The chef cooked the meal.” The subject (meal) receives the action. Active voice is direct; passive voice highlights the action or its recipient.
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