#Active or passive voice full#
#Active or passive voice professional#

Because the subject performs the main verb’s action, active voice sentences put forth a direct and clear tone. The active voice refers to when the subject of a sentence or clause is acting upon something instead of having the act done to it. When there is no way to get your point across in any other way, go with the passive voice. Generally, it’s ideal to write most of your sentences in business writing in the active voice. For example, the passive voice can help you communicate more clearly when reporting an event that took place or emphasizing an action itself while the actor is irrelevant. With that said, the passive voice still has a place in business writing as long as you use it sparingly. However, the truth is the passive voice is necessary for those industries because the active voice cannot convey specific ideas effectively. This is rooted in the fact that much of legal and scientific writing uses the passive voice. One common mistake that writers and communicators make is using the passive voice because they think it sounds fancier than the active voice. Allow the papers to be signed by Fiona.The new apartments were constructed in May.Today, Sonya is being asked a big question by her fiancé.Spaghetti was being cooked by Thomas last night.The oranges were purchased by Grayson in New York.Every passive voice sentence follows the same fundamental structure: (passive subject + to be + past participle).Ĭheck out the following examples of passive voice construction: Jennifer is the one acting (she sipped the coffee).īecause the subject is receiving rather than performing the action, this sentence is in the passive voice.

The subject of this sentence is the coffee, which is not doing anything. In reality, it’s pretty easy to detect the passive voice in content. What Are Some Examples of the Passive Voice?ĭescribing grammatical voices through writing is quite meta, so passive form might sound a bit more complicated than it is. Most of these sentences generate prepositional phrases with the word “by'' too. That is, the subject is having an act done to it instead of doing the act itself.Įvery passive voice sentence consists of a conjugated form of the infinitive “to be” and the verb’s past participle. The passive voice refers to when the verb acts on a sentence’s or clause’s subject. Then, you will understand when to apply them to make your communications more impactful.Īlright, linguists, let’s discuss. Learning the differences between passive and active voices is essential if you want to take your communication (and your career) to the next level.

#Active or passive voice full#

English grammar is full of contradictions that are challenging and, at the same time, fun to learn about.

Generally speaking, the active voice is preferable in most business writing, while the passive voice is often necessary for conveying ideas in technical and scientific content.Īs with any rule in the English language, however, there are exceptions. There are two grammatical voices in writing: passive and active voices. That way, you can reduce the risk of team members, clients, suppliers, or the public misunderstanding your message.

#Active or passive voice professional#

As a professional or business owner, you want your communication to be clear and direct.