How to Spot and Fix Passive Voice in Your Writing
Many writers struggle with passive voice in their writing. It can make sentences sound awkward and clunky, and can even detract from the meaning you're trying to convey. In this post, we'll look at how to spot and fix passive voice in your writing so your words can flow more smoothly and powerfully.
What is Passive Voice?
First, let's define what we mean by passive voice. In a sentence written in passive voice, the subject of the sentence is acted upon by the verb. In other words, the sentence focuses on the thing receiving the action, rather than the thing performing the action.
Here's an example:
The ball was thrown by John.
Here, the object of the sentence (the ball) is being thrown, but we don't know who is doing the throwing until the end of the sentence. This can make the sentence seem long and complicated, and can distract from the action of the sentence.
Why is Passive Voice a Problem?
Passive voice can be a problem for a few reasons. First, it can make sentences sound awkward and clunky. This is because the sentence is structured in a way that's not intuitive to our language: we are used to hearing sentences that focus on the subject performing the action, rather than the object receiving it.
Second, passive voice can be less clear than active voice. When you use passive voice, you may be hiding the true actor of the sentence. This can be confusing for your reader, especially if it's not immediately clear who's doing what in the sentence.
Finally, passive voice can be a sign of weak writing. It's often used to avoid taking responsibility for an action or to be intentionally vague. If you want your writing to be powerful and engaging, you'll want to avoid passive voice whenever possible.
How to Spot Passive Voice
The best way to spot passive voice in your writing is to look for sentences where the object is being acted upon, rather than the subject. Here are a few key indicators:
- Forms of the verb “to be” (such as is, are, was, were, be, being, been)
- The word "by" followed by a noun or pronoun
If you see these signs in your writing, chances are you're using passive voice.
How to Fix Passive Voice
Fixing passive voice in your writing is often as simple as flipping the sentence around so that the subject is performing the action. Here's an example:
Passive voice: The cake was made by my grandmother.
Active voice: My grandmother made the cake.
Here are a few more tips for fixing passive voice:
- Identify the action in the sentence and make it the subject
- Avoid using the passive voice in favor of active voice
- Don't be afraid to name the person or thing performing the action
Examples of Passive Voice in Different Tenses
Passive voice can crop up in any tense of writing, from past to present to future. Here are a few examples:
- Past tense: The book was written by Jane.
- Present tense: The cake is being made by my sister.
- Future tense: The report will be submitted tomorrow by the team lead.
Final Thoughts
Passive voice can be a tricky problem to tackle in your writing, but with a little practice, you can learn to spot and fix it easily. Remember, the key to powerful writing is using active voice whenever possible, so don't be afraid to name the subject of your sentences and focus on the action they're taking. With these tips in mind, you'll be well on your way to more engaging and effective writing.