JS Tip 622: Active and Passive Voice Revisited

From the Writing Workshops: Active and Passive Voice, Part I

Last week, we talked about passive voice and accountability. We promised to continue the discussion about passive voice. 

We’ve explored the topic before (1938 or so), but it’s important, so we’ll explore the topic again—in a series of tips. 

Understanding Active and Passive Voice

Sometimes, as you run your spelling and grammar checks, you’ll get a warning screen that says, “This sentence may be in passive voice.” 

Whoooaaaa!

And you’ll say, “What the heck is passive voice?” 

“Voice” relates to who or what is doing the action of a sentence. (Not all sentences involve action: “The wagon was red,” for example, is information.) 

Active Voice. If the subject does the action, the sentence is in “active voice”: “Belle wrote the report.” Notice how the subject, Belle, is doing the action, the writing. 

Passive Voice. If the subject receives the action, the sentence is in “passive voice”: “The report was written by Belle.” Notice how the subject, the report, is receiving the action; it’s being written. 

Use active voice as your standard. It’s concise, conversational, and direct. 

A Challenge. Identify a well-known quotation or passage in passive voice. We bet you can’t find one. Glory, laud, and honor to whoever can. 

In next week’s tip, we’ll explore three warning flags to identify passive voice. 

This is fun.