WRITING TECHNIQUES
Using Active and Passive Voice Strategically
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Verbs may be in the active or passive voice. When the verb expresses
an action directed by the subject toward the object of the verb, the verb
is said to be in the active voice (Jamie sends messages).
Verbs in the active voice are direct and forceful; they clearly identify
the doer of the action. For these reasons, writing that frequently uses
the active voice is vigorous and effective. It is called the voice
of business.
When the action in a verb is directed toward the subject, the verb is
said to be in the passive voice (Messages were sent by Jamie).
The passive voice is effective when the action is more important than
the doer or when the doer is unknown or should not be revealed (Sloppy
errors were made in the report). The passive voice is sometimes called
the voice of tact because it can be used to avoid mentioning
the performer of the action.
To decide whether a verb is active or passive, first identify the subject
and verb in a sentence. Is the subject doing the acting or being acted
upon? Another clue in identifying passive-voice verbs is that they generally
include a to be helping verb, such as is, are, was, were,
being, or been.
| Passive: |
A new movie was released. [The subject
is movie; the passive-voice verb is was released]. |
| Active: |
Pixar released a new movie. [The subject is Pixar;
the active-voice verb is released.] |
| Passive: |
A law protecting oak trees was being considered. [The
sentence subject is law; it is not doing the acting. It is
being acted upon. We don't know who is doing the acting. The passive-voice
verb is was being considered.] |
| Active: |
Legislators were considering a law protecting oak trees.[The
subject is legislators; it is performing the action. The
active-voice verb is were considering.] |
For further discussion of active and passive voice, see the following:
Page 177 in Guffey's Business Communication: Process and Product,
5e
Page 65 Guffey's Essentials of Business Communication, 7e
Page 133 in Guffey's Business English, 8e
In the following sentences underline the sentence subjects once and verbs
twice. Then in the space provided, write Active or Passive to identify the voice.
1. Employees in many companies send careless e-mails. _____
2. Employees in some companies were fired for sending careless e-mails.
_____
3. Communication and computer skills are required by hiring companies.
_____
4. A new program was devised for making automatic payments. _____
5. Erin immediately sent e-mail messages to all committee members. _____
Convert the following passive-voice sentences to active voice. Normally
you can change a verb from passive to active voice by making the doer
of the action—usually contained in a by phrase—the
subject of the sentence. If no by phrase is provided, make up
a logical subject. Be ready to discuss the strategy (pros and cons) of
each version.
6. Funds for the new hospital were contributed by private individuals.
_____________________________________________________________________
7. Intranets are being used as internal networks by many savvy companies.
_____________________________________________________________________
8. All Vista Park apartments will be converted into condominiums within
a year.
______________________________________________________________________
9. The Internet activity of employees is monitored electronically by
managers.
______________________________________________________________________
10. Production costs must be reduced if we are to continue in business.
______________________________________________________________________
Convert the following active-voice sentences to passive voice. Be ready
to discuss the strategy (pros and cons) of each version.
11. The driver's negligence caused a serious accident.
______________________________________________________________________
12. Board members consulted no one before making the decision to cut
salaries.
______________________________________________________________________
13. Managers recently drew up a new e-mail policy severely restricting
Internet access.
______________________________________________________________________
14. We cannot send the merchandise you ordered until you provide a street
address.
______________________________________________________________________
15. The management here at St. Catherine's Hospital does not accept uninsured
patients for emergency care.
______________________________________________________________________
Why are politicians
so fond of saying, "Mistakes were made"?
1. Subject: Employees; Verb: send -------------------- Active voice
2. Subject: Employees; Verb: were fired -------------- Passive voice
3. Subject: skills; Verb: are required ------------------ Passive voice
4. Subject: program; Verb: was devised -------------- Passive voice
5. Subject: Erin; Verb: sent ---------------------------- Active voice
Students are to convert the following passive-voice sentences
to active-voice.
6. Passive: Funds for the new hospital were contributed by private individuals.
Active: Private individuals contributed funds for the new hospital. [The
active voice emphasizes individuals. The passive voice emphasizes funds.]
7. Passive: Intranets are being used as internal networks by many savvy
companies.
Active: Many savvy companies use intranets as an internal network. [The
active voice emphasizes companies. The passive voice emphasizes intranets.]
8. Passive: All Vista Park apartments will be converted into condominiums
within a year.
Active: Vista Park owners will convert all apartments into condominiums
within a year. [This sentence required the addition of a subject, thus
placing emphasis on owners rather than on apartments and their
conversion. Writers must decide what they want to emphasize.]
9. Passive: The Internet activity of employees is monitored electronically
by managers.
Active: Managers electronically monitor the Internet activity of employees.
[The passive voice emphasizes the action rather than the doers. To totally
conceal the doers, the sentence could have been written without the by phrase.]
10. Passive: Production costs must be reduced if we are to continue in
business.
Active: We must reduce production costs if we are to continue in business.
[The passive voice emphasizes production costs. The active voice
emphasizes we, the doers of the action. Sometimes the writer
wants to put more emphasis on the action than the doer.
Students are to convert the following active-voice sentences to passive
voice.
11. Active: The driver's negligence caused a serious accident.
Passive: Negligence caused a serious accident. [The passive voice emphasizes
the action and avoids mentioning the doer. Writers can control how much
they reveal by their word choice.]
12. Active: Board members consulted no one before deciding to reduce
salaries.
Passive: No one was consulted before the decision to reduce salaries was
made. [The passive voice avoids revealing who did what. This strategy
depends on the goal of the writer.]
13. Active: Managers recently drew up a new e-mail policy severely restricting
Internet access.
Passive: A new e-mail policy severely restricting Internet access was
recently drawn up.
[The passive voice emphasizes the action or event rather than the doer.]
14. Active: We cannot send the merchandise you ordered until you provide
a street address.
Passive: The merchandise you ordered cannot be sent until you provide
a street address. [The passive-voice avoids emphasis on the doer. This
sentence might be revised to make it more positive: Your merchandise will
be sent as soon as you provide a street address.]
15. Active: The management here at St. Catherine's Hospital does not
accept uninsured patients for emergency care.
Passive: Uninsured patients are not accepted for emergency care at St.
Catherine's Hospital.
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