An author may write a sentence in one of two
"voices"—active or passive.The active voice emphasizes
the performer (or agent) of the action:Wind disperses plant
seeds.Smith et al. investigated the relationship.We have analyzed the results.The
active voice is direct (performer–verb–receiver), vigorous, clear,
and concise. The reader knows who is responsible for the action.
The passive voice, in contrast, emphasizes
the receiver (or product) of the action:Plant seeds are dispersed [by
wind].The relationship was investigated [by Smith et al].The results have been
analyzed [by us].The passive voice
is indirect (receiver–verb–performer) and can be weak, awkward, and
wordy. Passive voice uses a form of the verb to be followed by a past
participle (e.g., dispersed, investigated) and a by phrase. If
the by phrase is omitted (the truncated passive), the reader will not
directly know who or what performed the action.A particularly awkward and
ambiguous form of the passive voice occurs when an author uses it as
the receiver rather than the first-person pronouns I or we:It is
concluded that the treatment is effective.These types of passive-voice
sentences are a form of hedging.In addition to being awkward, sentences
written in the passive voice, if not constructed carefully, may contain
grammatical errors such as dangling modifiers.Changing from passive to
active voice corrects the error and strengthens the sentence:Dangling: To
investigate the source of nutrients, eggshell membranes were
compared. (incorrect passive)Correction: To investigate the source of
nutrients, we compared eggshell
membranes. (active)Dangling: After analyzing the samples, the plants
were measured daily. (incorrect passive)Correction: After analyzing
the samples, we measured the plants daily. (active)Despite these
disadvantages, the passive voice has a legitimate place in writing. In addition
to allowing an author to vary the sentence structure, the passive
voice has other important functions. To learn more, see "The Value of the
Passive Voice."
Tradition and the Passive Voice
More than a century ago, scientists typically wrote
in an active style that included the first-person
pronouns I and we. Beginning in about the 1920s, however, these
pronouns became less common as scientists adopted a passive writing
style.Considered to be objective, impersonal, and well suited to science
writing, the passive voice became the standard style for medical and scientific
journal publications for decades.There were exceptions, however. For instance,
in 1953, one elegantly written paper began:
Here are examples of sentences written in both the
active voice and the passive voice, with the active voice sentence
appearing first:
1.andi ate
six shrimp at dinner. (active)
At dinner, six shrimp were eaten by Harry.
(passive)
2.Beautiful giraffes roam the savannah. (active)
The savannah is roamed by beautiful giraffes.
(passive)
3.Sue changed the flat tire. (active)
The flat tire was changed by Sue. (passive)
4.We are going to watch a movie tonight. (active)
A movie is going to be watched by us tonight.
(passive)
5.I ran the obstacle course in record time. (active)
The obstacle course was run by me in record
time. (passive)
6.The crew paved the entire stretch of highway.
(active)
The entire stretch of highway was paved by the
crew. (passive)
7.Mom read the novel in one day. (active)
The novel was read by Mom in one day.
(passive)
8.e critic wrote a scathing review. (active)
A scathing review was written by the critic.
(passive)
9.I will clean the house every Saturday. (active)
The house will be cleaned by me every
Saturday. (passive)
10.The staff is required to watch a safety video
every year. (active)
A safety
video will be watched by the staff every year. (passive)
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