{"id":30,"date":"2015-07-21T18:28:23","date_gmt":"2015-07-21T18:28:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.candelalearning.com\/styleforstudents\/?post_type=chapter&p=30"},"modified":"2015-07-21T18:28:23","modified_gmt":"2015-07-21T18:28:23","slug":"the-passive-versus-active-voice-dilemma","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hccc-styleforstudents-1\/chapter\/the-passive-versus-active-voice-dilemma\/","title":{"raw":"The Passive versus Active Voice Dilemma","rendered":"The Passive versus Active Voice Dilemma"},"content":{"raw":"
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\r\n\r\nTeachers actually get fired up about this issue. You may have had a frustrated (and frustrating?) professor write on your paper \u201cUse passive voice!\u201d or \u201cAvoid passive voice!\u201d during your studies, and your grammar checker will be happy to flag and condemn all passive sentences for you. Further, your English textbook might suggest that the active sentence \u201cJack hit the baseball\u201d is better than the passive sentence \u201cThe baseball was hit by Jack.\u201d As well-intentioned as they might be, these tidbits of advice don\u2019t help much, do they? You are not likely to have anyone named Jack hitting any baseballs in your papers, and obviously both <\/em>passive and active voice are powerful tools in the right hands.\r\n\r\nYou are probably already able to identify whether or not sentences are written in the passive or active voice, but if not, here is a refresher: In the simplest terms, an active voice sentence is written in the form of \u201cA does B.\u201d A passive voice sentence is written in the form of \u201cA is done by B.\u201d Both constructions are fine. In fact, notice how the sentences below, depending on the context in which they appear, are equally acceptable:\r\n
Passive voice:<\/em> The rate of evaporation is controlled by the size of an opening.\r\n\r\nActive voice<\/em>: The size of an opening controls the rate of evaporation.<\/blockquote>\r\nThe passive choice slightly emphasizes \u201cthe rate of evaporation,\u201d while the active choice emphasizes \u201cthe size of an opening.\u201d Simple. So why all the fuss? Because the habit of overusing passive constructions rules too many writers, who habitually produce grammatically tangled sentences such as this one:\r\n
Groundwater flow is influenced by zones of fracture concentration, as can be recognized by the two model simulations (see Figures 1 and 2), by which one can see . . .<\/blockquote>\r\nForget it. The sentence is becoming a burden for the reader, and probably for the writer too. As often happens, the passive voice here has smothered potential verbs and kicked off a runaway train of prepositions. But the reader\u2019s task gets much easier in the revised version below:\r\n
Two model simulations (Figures 1 and 2) illustrate how zones of fracture concentration influence groundwater flow. These simulations show . . .<\/blockquote>\r\nTo revise the above, all I did was look for the two buried things (simulations and zones) in the original version that could actually do <\/em>something, and I made the sentence clearly about these two nouns by placing them in front of active verbs. This is the general principle to follow as you compose in the active voice: Place concrete nouns that can perform work in front of active verbs representing the nature of the work done.\r\n\r\nBut suppose you are writing a report where you may not use \u201cI\u201d, or you are writing about a sentence subject that can not actually do <\/em>anything. What to do when the passive voice is the best, most natural choice?\r\n\r\nThe answer lies in writing direct sentences\u2014in passive voice\u2014that have simple subjects and verbs. Compare the two sentences below:\r\n
Photomicrographs were taken to facilitate easy comparison of the samples.\r\n\r\nEasy comparison of the samples was facilitated by the taking of photomicrographs.<\/blockquote>\r\nBoth sentences are written in the passive voice, but for most ears the first sentence is more direct and understandable, and therefore preferable. Depending on the context, it does a clearer job of telling us what was done and why it was done. Especially if this sentence appears in the \u201cExperimental\u201d section of a report (and thus readers already know that the authors of the report took the photomicrographs), the first sentence neatly represents what the authors actually did\u2014took photomicrographs\u2014and why they did it\u2014to facilitate easy comparison.\r\n\r\nNote well: Using passive voice does not have to create ambiguity nor complicate wording. When you use the passive voice, seek economy and clarity. Avoid such empty and ambiguous phrases as \u201cit might be thought that\u201d (try \u201cperhaps\u201d) or \u201cit is to be supposed that\u201d (try \u201cpresumably\u201d) or \u201cthe theory that is held by the writer of this report at the present time of this writing\u201d (try \u201cIt is theorized that\u201d) or \u201cone should think of\u201d (try dropping it completely). At times the passive seems unavoidable, but the passive can often be switched to the active with some simple rewording, and both <\/em>the active and the passive voice can be direct, efficient, and clear in context. In your writing, you must strive to use both of them well.\r\n
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Self-Study<\/h3>\r\nFor examples and exercises on passive vs. active voice, check out these websites:\r\n\r\n\"Choosing between Active and Passive Voice Verbs When Writing\" page\u00a0from Kennesaw State University<\/a>\r\n\r\nActive and passive voice discussion and examples from a professor at Seton Hill University<\/a>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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Teachers actually get fired up about this issue. You may have had a frustrated (and frustrating?) professor write on your paper \u201cUse passive voice!\u201d or \u201cAvoid passive voice!\u201d during your studies, and your grammar checker will be happy to flag and condemn all passive sentences for you. Further, your English textbook might suggest that the active sentence \u201cJack hit the baseball\u201d is better than the passive sentence \u201cThe baseball was hit by Jack.\u201d As well-intentioned as they might be, these tidbits of advice don\u2019t help much, do they? You are not likely to have anyone named Jack hitting any baseballs in your papers, and obviously both <\/em>passive and active voice are powerful tools in the right hands.<\/p>\n

You are probably already able to identify whether or not sentences are written in the passive or active voice, but if not, here is a refresher: In the simplest terms, an active voice sentence is written in the form of \u201cA does B.\u201d A passive voice sentence is written in the form of \u201cA is done by B.\u201d Both constructions are fine. In fact, notice how the sentences below, depending on the context in which they appear, are equally acceptable:<\/p>\n

Passive voice:<\/em> The rate of evaporation is controlled by the size of an opening.<\/p>\n

Active voice<\/em>: The size of an opening controls the rate of evaporation.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The passive choice slightly emphasizes \u201cthe rate of evaporation,\u201d while the active choice emphasizes \u201cthe size of an opening.\u201d Simple. So why all the fuss? Because the habit of overusing passive constructions rules too many writers, who habitually produce grammatically tangled sentences such as this one:<\/p>\n

Groundwater flow is influenced by zones of fracture concentration, as can be recognized by the two model simulations (see Figures 1 and 2), by which one can see . . .<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Forget it. The sentence is becoming a burden for the reader, and probably for the writer too. As often happens, the passive voice here has smothered potential verbs and kicked off a runaway train of prepositions. But the reader\u2019s task gets much easier in the revised version below:<\/p>\n

Two model simulations (Figures 1 and 2) illustrate how zones of fracture concentration influence groundwater flow. These simulations show . . .<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

To revise the above, all I did was look for the two buried things (simulations and zones) in the original version that could actually do <\/em>something, and I made the sentence clearly about these two nouns by placing them in front of active verbs. This is the general principle to follow as you compose in the active voice: Place concrete nouns that can perform work in front of active verbs representing the nature of the work done.<\/p>\n

But suppose you are writing a report where you may not use \u201cI\u201d, or you are writing about a sentence subject that can not actually do <\/em>anything. What to do when the passive voice is the best, most natural choice?<\/p>\n

The answer lies in writing direct sentences\u2014in passive voice\u2014that have simple subjects and verbs. Compare the two sentences below:<\/p>\n

Photomicrographs were taken to facilitate easy comparison of the samples.<\/p>\n

Easy comparison of the samples was facilitated by the taking of photomicrographs.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Both sentences are written in the passive voice, but for most ears the first sentence is more direct and understandable, and therefore preferable. Depending on the context, it does a clearer job of telling us what was done and why it was done. Especially if this sentence appears in the \u201cExperimental\u201d section of a report (and thus readers already know that the authors of the report took the photomicrographs), the first sentence neatly represents what the authors actually did\u2014took photomicrographs\u2014and why they did it\u2014to facilitate easy comparison.<\/p>\n

Note well: Using passive voice does not have to create ambiguity nor complicate wording. When you use the passive voice, seek economy and clarity. Avoid such empty and ambiguous phrases as \u201cit might be thought that\u201d (try \u201cperhaps\u201d) or \u201cit is to be supposed that\u201d (try \u201cpresumably\u201d) or \u201cthe theory that is held by the writer of this report at the present time of this writing\u201d (try \u201cIt is theorized that\u201d) or \u201cone should think of\u201d (try dropping it completely). At times the passive seems unavoidable, but the passive can often be switched to the active with some simple rewording, and both <\/em>the active and the passive voice can be direct, efficient, and clear in context. In your writing, you must strive to use both of them well.<\/p>\n

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Self-Study<\/h3>\n

For examples and exercises on passive vs. active voice, check out these websites:<\/p>\n

“Choosing between Active and Passive Voice Verbs When Writing” page\u00a0from Kennesaw State University<\/a><\/p>\n

Active and passive voice discussion and examples from a professor at Seton Hill University<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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