Recently I was asked about passive voice. It’s a trap that sucks in most everyone, so I’m on a quest to help us get out of it.
What is passive voice?
Passive voice is when the subject is acted upon instead of doing the acting.
Example: The iPhone 16 will be available on Sept. 20, 2024.
Passive voice is difficult to read, hard to understand, and wordy.
Active voice is when the subject does the acting.
Example: You can buy the iPhone 16 on Sept. 20, 2024.
Active voice is clearer, easier to understand, and more fun to read. Plus, it uses fewer words, which makes writing (and the reading of it) more concise.
Watchwords
Not sure if your sentence is passive voice? Look for these telltale words:
- will be
- am
- is
- was
- were
- are
- been
NOTE: These words don’t always mean passive voice but they’re a pretty good indicator.
The Fix
Switch the words around to express the action directly.
Here are some examples to help you get the hang of it:
Passive: Mark is loved by Jan.
Active: Jan loves Mark.
Passive: Snickerdoodles will be enjoyed by all.
Active: Everyone will enjoy snickerdoodles.
Passive: If a partner or outside firm will be utilized to perform any services, this must be noted.
Active: Please note if partners or outside firms provide services.
Passive: The sloped design is able to allow materials to slide away from the frame.
Active: The sloped design allows materials to slide away from the frame.