The Difference Between Active and Passive Voice in Writing
When it comes to writing, the use of active and passive voice can have a significant impact on the clarity, tone, and overall effectiveness of your content. While both forms of voice have their purposes, understanding their differences and when to use each can greatly improve your writing skills.
What is Active Voice?
Active voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of a sentence performs an action on an object. In other words, the subject is doing the action, and the object receives the action. For example, “John wrote the article” is an active sentence. John is the subject, he performed the action of writing, and the article is the object that received the action.
Active voice is usually more direct and effective in conveying clear meaning and action. It is especially useful in persuasive writing, as it allows you to emphasize the importance of the subject performing the action. When you use active voice, you are putting the focus on the subject, which can make your writing more engaging and interesting for your readers.
What is Passive Voice?
Passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject receives the action instead of performing the action. In passive voice, the object of the sentence becomes the subject, and the subject becomes the object. For instance, “The article was written by John” is a passive sentence. The subject, the article, received the action, and John, the object, is performing the action.
Passive voice is often used to downplay the importance of the subject or to make the sentence sound more formal. However, it can sound confusing or ambiguous, especially when there is no clear subject or action. Passive voice can also make your writing sound less engaging or persuasive because it distances the reader from the action.
When Should You Use Active or Passive Voice?
The choice between active and passive voice depends on the goals of your writing and the specific context. Generally, active voice is preferred in most types of writing, including academic and technical writing, journalism, and fiction. It offers more clarity, conciseness, and impact, and helps to keep the reader engaged.
Passive voice can be useful in some situations, such as when you want to:
– Emphasize the receiver of the action over the performer
– Describe a process or a series of events in chronological order
– Avoid blaming or accusing someone directly
– Make a request or a suggestion more polite
However, you should avoid using passive voice when it leads to ambiguity, passivity, or vagueness. For instance, if you want to make a strong argument or persuade your readers to take action, it is better to use active voice.
In conclusion, the choice between active and passive voice depends on your goals, your audience, and the context of your writing. Mastering both forms of voice can enhance your writing ability and make your content more effective and engaging.
Table difference between active and passive voice
| Active Voice | Passive Voice |
|---|---|
| Subject acts on the verb | Subject receives the action of the verb |
| Focuses on the doer of the action | Focuses on the action or the receiver of the action |
| Uses a direct object | Uses the verb “to be” and a past participle with a preposition (by) to form the passive voice |
| Often preferred in writing and speaking as it is more concise and direct | Used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, or when the doer of the action is unknown or unimportant |
| Example: The dog chased the ball. | Example: The ball was chased by the dog. |