What is Active voice in writing? It is when the subject of the sentence performs the action stated by the verb. In other words, the subject is doing something.
Most sentences are written in active voice. To spot an active voice, look for a sentence where the subject comes before the verb. The reverse—when the verb comes before the subject—is usually a passive voice.
Passive voice happens when the subject of the sentence is being acted upon by the verb. In other words, something is being done to the subject. This usually occurs when we want to de-emphasize the actor or when the actor is unknown. To spot passive voice, look for a sentence where the verb comes before the subject.
While active voice is usually preferable in writing, there are times when passive voice can be used effectively. Just be aware of how often you use it and whether it’s truly helping your writing or making it more complicated to read.
What is Active Voice?
In writing, there are two main voices – active and passive. The active voice is when the subject of the sentence is acting. For example: “I am writing a paragraph.” The passive voice is when the subject of the sentence is having the action done to them. For example: “A paragraph is being written by me.” While both are technically correct, learning what is active voice in writing is generally seen as more powerful and direct.
It’s also often more concise, which can be helpful when trying to make a point or keep your writing clear and to the point. So, if you’re looking to add some punch to your writing, try using and learning what is active voice in writing more often. Your readers will thank you for it.
What is Passive Voice?
The passive voice is a grammatical construction (specifically, a voice). The subject of a sentence or clause featuring the passive voice typically denotes the recipient of the action (the Patient) rather than the performer (the Agent). For example, in the sentence “The ball was thrown by the pitcher,” the ball is the Patient, and the pitcher is the Agent. In contrast, on what is active voice in writing, its features a grammatical construction in which the subject denotes the performer: “The pitcher threw the ball.”
While the use of the passive voice is often criticized as being incorrect or sloppy, it has several important uses.
- The passive voice can be used to de-emphasize or omit information about the Agent. In our earlier example, if someone wanted to de-emphasize who threw the ball, they could say “The ball was thrown.” Omitting information about an Agent is often important in academic writing, where texts must maintain a neutral tone.
- The passive voice can be used to accentuate certain relationships between an Agent and a Patient. For example, consider this sentence: “Mistakes were made.” This simple sentence provides no direct information about who made the mistakes. However, its use of passive voice implies that responsibility for the mistakes lies with some entity other than whoever is speaking. As such, it can be used to subtly shift blame or responsibility onto someone else.
It’s worth noting that use of the passive voice is often perfectly fine grammatically. In fact, many style guides specifically allow for its use in certain situations. So while you shouldn’t rely on the passive voice too heavily in your writing, there’s no need to avoid it entirely.
How to Identify Active and Passive Voice
Most sentences are written in active voice. In what is active voice in writing, the subject of the sentence is the actor, performing the verb. For example: “I am writing a paper.” The subject of this sentence (I) is doing the writing. Other examples of active voice include: “The cashier counted the money.” “She took out a loan.
In passive voice, the subject of the sentence is not the actor. Instead, the subject is acted upon by the verb. For example: “The paper was written by me.” In this sentence, the paper (the subject) is not doing anything – it is being acted upon by the verb (written). Other examples of passive voice include: “The money was counted by the cashier.” “A loan was taken out by her.”
So, how can you tell if a sentence is written in active or passive voice? There are a few clues to look for:
- Is there an actor listed in the sentence? If so, it’s probably written in active voice.
- Is the verb a form of “to be” (am, is, are, was, were)? If so, it’s probably written in passive voice.
- Does the sentence sound awkward or confusing? If so, it may be because it’s written in passive voice.
- If you’re not sure whether a sentence is written in active or passive voice, try reading it aloud.
- Does it sound natural? If not, chances are it’s written in passive voice and could be rewritten in the active voice for clarity.
The key to identifying active and passive voice is understanding how the subject of a sentence relates to the verb. By looking for clues such as an actor listed in the sentence or verbs conjugated with “to be” you can determine if a sentence is written in active or passive voice. If you’re still not sure, try reading it aloud – if it sounds awkward then chances are it’s written in passive voice and could benefit from being rewritten into active!
When to Use Active and Passive Voice
In general, use and learn what is active voice in writing when you want your writing to be clear and direct. In describing what is active voice in writing, it is usually more energetic and concise than the passive voice, making it a good choice for most business writing. However, there are some situations where the passive voice is preferable.
For example, if you want to avoid placing blame or sounding accusatory, the passive voice can be a useful tool. For instance, instead of writing “You made a mistake,” you could write “A mistake was made.” The passive voice can also be used to downplay the importance of an event or to make a piece of writing sound more objective.
In general, though, learning what is active voice in writing is the best choice for most business writing. The clear and direct language will help ensure that your message gets across to your reader.
How to Convert from Passive to Active Voice
To write in an active voice, you need to use strong verbs. Verbs are the engine of a sentence–they express action or being. The key to writing in an active voice is to use verbs that express specific and concrete actions. For example, instead of “The project was completed by me,” you could write “I completed the project.
This small change makes a big difference in the tone of your writing. When you use strong verbs, your writing becomes more engaged and interesting to read. As a result, your readers will be more likely to pay attention and take action.
So if you want to convert from passive to active voice, the first step is to find strong verbs that express concrete actions.
How to Convert from Active to Passive Voice
To sound like you know what you’re talking about, it’s often helpful to convert your sentence from active voice to passive voice. In what is active voice in writing, it sounds more personal and engaged, while the passive voice can make your writing sound more objective and authoritative. Here are a few tips on how to make the conversion:
- Start by identifying the subject and verb of your sentence. For example, “I am writing a paper on the benefits of passive voice.
- Next, identify the object of the verb if there is one. In this case, the object is the “benefits of passive voice.”
- Now, simply reverse the order of the subject and object so that the object comes first. So, the new sentence would read, “The benefits of passive voice are being written about by me.”
- And, add any necessary words to complete the sentence. In this case, you would need to add the word “in” before “order” and change “are” to “is.” The final sentence would read, “To sound more objective and authoritative, many people choose to write in passive voice.
As you can see, converting from active to passive voice is a fairly simple process. However, it can make a big difference in how your writing is received by others. So next time you’re struggling to sound like an expert on a topic, remember these tips on how to convert from active to passive voice.
Examples of Active and Passive Voice in Sentences
Here are some examples of active and passive voice:
Active: The cashier counted the money.
Passive: The money was counted by the cashier.
Active: I will write the essay.
Passive: The essay will be written by me.
Active: The teacher is grading the tests.
Passive: The tests are being graded by the teacher.
As you can see, passive voice often uses more words and can be more complicated than active voice. In general, try to use active voice whenever possible to keep your writing clear and concise.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is important to be aware of both active and passive voices so that you can use each one effectively in your writing. Active voice is usually more concise and easier to understand than passive voice, but there are times when passive voice can be useful.
Ultimately, the best choice for most business writing is an active voice. Strong verbs that express concrete actions will help ensure that your message gets across to your reader. With a little practice, you’ll be writing in an active voice in no time!
FAQs
What is an active voice in writing?
Active voice in writing is when the subject of the sentence acts. For example, “The dog chased the cat” is written in an active voice. The passive voice would be, “The cat was chased by the dog.” To spot passive voice, look for a sentence where the subject is being acted upon.
How do I use active voice in writing?
To use active voice in writing, make sure the subject of your sentence is acting. For example, “I am writing a paper” is written in an active voice. “The paper is being written by me” is written in passive voice. Passive voice often happens when people try to sound more formal or “academic.” However, an active voice is usually clearer and easier to read.
What are the benefits of using an active voice in writing?
Active voice in writing can make your sentences shorter, simpler, and easier to understand. It can also make your writing sound more confident and direct.
Are there any situations where I should use passive voice in writing?
You might use passive voice in writing if you want to de-emphasize the subject of the sentence, or if you’re not sure who is responsible for the action. For example, “The lamp was knocked over” is written in passive voice. This could be because you don’t know who knocked it over, or because you don’t want to assign blame.
What are some common mistakes people make when using active voice in writing?
Some common mistakes people make when using active voice include using “I” too much, sounding overly forceful, or coming across as bossy. To avoid these mistakes, try to vary your sentence structure and use other pronouns besides “I.
Are there any resources that can help me learn more about using active voice in writing?
Yes! There are lots of great resources out there that can help you learn more about what is active voice in writing.
