If you are not familiar with active voice and passive voice in writing, you can begin by looking up your sentences. Active voice sentences contain direct objects, while passive sentences do not. Examples of passive sentences are “I ate a pizza on the table,” and “Enzo completed the process that was essential to the experiment’s success.”
If you are writing a story, active voice sentences follow the subject, verb, and object. In this way, active voice sentences have a direct object, identifying the object receiving the action described by the verb. Passive voice sentences are the opposite – the subject performs the action, and the verb describes the result. When a sentence is written in the active voice, the direct object is usually the main subject.
The active voice carries a more direct tone, whereas the passive voice is weaker. Both types of sentences are correct in some situations, but you should know when to use each one. In academic writing, passive voice is more appropriate if the subject is the agent of the action, and it can be used when a particular action is being performed. The following example will illustrate the difference between active and passive voice. If you’re wondering which one is correct, check out the grammar rule referenced below.
Use active and passive voice to highlight what was done instead of a specific event or action. In crime reports, passive voice allows you to write a longer headline while still putting forward known information. It’s especially helpful when the crime victim’s identity is unknown at the time. However, it doesn’t sound as professional. Passive voice is an acceptable choice in most situations. But, if you need to emphasize a specific action, use the active voice instead.
When writing for the general public, use an active voice. Passive voice is more common among students of English but can make your writing more formal and impressive. Try to avoid the passive voice in novel writing. It can make your writing sound flat. And, it’s more appropriate for non-academic writing than for academic writing. So, keep in mind that passive voice can also be used in certain situations. So, if you’re unsure whether to use active or passive voice in a particular situation, don’t hesitate to look it up!
Use active voice in academic writing. It’s natural to use an active voice in academic writing and formal speech. The passive voice, however, is more common in everyday speech. The active voice follows the basic structure of a sentence. In an active voice sentence, the subject does something and the verb acts on that action. The passive voice version is the opposite of the active voice and can be confusing to read. When choosing an appropriate writing style, be sure to check your sources to ensure that you’re following the correct format.
For most purposes, the active voice is the better choice. It enables the writer to flow from one idea to the next, without jarring the reader. Besides being concise, it also allows the writer to vary the sentence structure and avoid monotony. It’s a good practice for all writers. And remember to use the active voice whenever possible, especially when writing about the past. It will save you a lot of time and headaches in the end.
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