Writing Matters
| Publication year | 2009 |
| Pages | 0070 |
Pondering Passive Voice
by Karen J. Sneddon and David Hricik
We hear it all the time: Avoid passive voice.[1] But exactly what it is and why using it is so problematic can be lost in the cloud of grade school chalk dust. This installment defines passive voice, identifies tips for spotting passive voice and explores the pitfalls and benefits of using passive voice.
Passive Voice Defined
The best way to define passive voice is to contrast it with active voice. Using active voice, the writer constructs the sentence so that the subject of the sentence (sometimes referred to as the actor of the sentence) performs an action that is received by the object of the sentence. For example:
Jody signed the contract.
The subject (Jody) performed the action (signing) and the object (the contract) received the action.
Using passive voice, the writer essentially flips the sentence so that the object of the sentence becomes the subject of the sentence. For example:
The contract was signed by Jody.
The actor is now distanced from the action.
Spotting Passive Voice
Spotting passive voice can be elusive. Because passive voice is grammatically correct, grammar checking software may not detect all uses of passive voice. Thus, the writer needs to be vigilant for the use of passive voice. At least one of the following accompanies passive voice:
■ A form of the "to be" verb (i.e., am, are, is, was, were, been)
■ A past participle (e.g., filed, argued, written)
■ The word "by."
While software will not always catch passive voice, it can help you spot it. For instance, you can use the "find" command to search for the words am, is, are, was, were, be, by. This can focus your attention on likely troublesome sentences.
Once spotted, passive voice can easily be eliminated by starting the sentence with the actor, rather than the object. But this begs the question of why passive voice is problematic.
Pitfalls to Passive Voice
The common criticisms of passive voice are that it renders sentences ambiguous, wordy and monotonous.
Ambiguity
Because passive voice distances the actor from the action being performed, it can be difficult for the reader to identify who or what is the actor of the sentence. In fact, with passive voice constructions, the actor of the sentence may be omitted entirely. (The contract was signed.). As a result, not only can it...
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