Why Use Passive Voice9 min read

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There are many reasons why you might want to use the passive voice in your writing. When used correctly, the passive voice can make your writing smoother and less clunky. It can also make your writing sound more authoritative.

The passive voice is particularly useful when you want to emphasize the action rather than the actor. For example, “The door was opened by John” sounds much less impressive than “The door was opened.” Additionally, the passive voice can be used to avoid naming the actor, which can be useful in legal or journalistic writing.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind when using the passive voice. First, the passive voice can make your writing sound weaker and less emphatic. Additionally, it can be confusing for readers if you use the passive voice too often.

Overall, the passive voice can be a useful tool for writers. When used correctly, it can make your writing smoother and more authoritative. However, it’s important to use it sparingly to avoid confusing your readers.

Why do we need passive voice?

In English, the passive voice is used to emphasise the action rather than the actor. For example, ‘The window was smashed’ sounds more forceful than ‘Someone smashed the window’.

There are several reasons why the passive voice might be needed. When the actor is unknown or unimportant, the passive voice is a good way to avoid mentioning them. For example, ‘The window was smashed by a rock’ is less specific than ‘Someone smashed the window with a rock’.

Another use of the passive voice is when the actor is more important than the action. For example, ‘The window was smashed by a rock, but I’m not sure who did it’ emphasises the fact that someone smashed the window, but the speaker doesn’t know who it was.

The passive voice can also be used to make a sentence sound more polite or formal. For example, ‘The window was smashed by a rock, but it has now been repaired’ sounds more polite than ‘Someone smashed the window, but it has now been repaired’.

What are two reasons for passive voice?

There are two main reasons to use the passive voice: to emphasize the receiver of the action or to hide the actor.

1. To emphasize the receiver of the action: When you want to focus on the person or thing that received the action, you use the passive voice. For example, “The door was opened by Sarah” emphasizes Sarah as the person who opened the door.

2. To hide the actor: Sometimes you might not want to reveal the person or thing that did the action. For example, “The door was opened” doesn’t say who opened the door, which can be helpful if you don’t want to reveal that information.

When would a writer choose to use a passive voice?

When would a writer choose to use a passive voice?

There are many instances when a writer might choose to use the passive voice. One reason to use the passive voice is when the writer wants to avoid taking a position on an issue. For example, a journalist might write a story about a crime that has been committed, but not take a position on whether the crime is right or wrong. In this case, the passive voice would be used to avoid stating who committed the crime.

Another instance when the passive voice might be used is when the writer wants to downplay the importance of something. For example, if a company is announcing layoffs, the company might use the passive voice to make it sound like the layoffs are not a big deal.

There are also times when the passive voice can be used for emphasis. For example, if a writer wants to emphasize that something was done against someone’s will, the passive voice can be used.

Overall, there are many reasons why a writer might choose to use the passive voice. Some of the most common reasons are to avoid taking a position on an issue, to downplay the importance of something, or to emphasize something.

What effect do passive voice verbs have on writing?

There are two main types of verb voice: active and passive. The active voice is the more common and is used when the subject of the sentence is doing the action. The passive voice, on the other hand, is used when the subject is having something done to them.

While the active voice is generally considered to be more concise and straightforward, the passive voice can be useful in certain situations. For example, when you want to emphasize the object of the action, the passive voice can be used to create a more subtle tone. Additionally, the passive voice can be used to avoid taking responsibility for an action, or to make the author sound more modest.

However, there are also a few drawbacks to using the passive voice. First, the passive voice can be wordy and confusing, since the subject is often hidden in the sentence. Additionally, the passive voice can make it difficult to identify who is doing the action, and can give the impression that the author is not in control of the situation.

Ultimately, the use of the passive voice should be considered on a case-by-case basis. In most cases, the active voice is the best option, but there are occasions when the passive voice can be more effective.

What are the 4 reasons to use the passive?

There are four main reasons to use the passive voice in your writing: to emphasize the recipient of the action, to emphasize the action itself, to avoid identifying the actor, or to create a more formal tone.

1. To emphasize the recipient of the action, use the passive voice when the recipient is more important than the actor. For example, “The door was opened by John” emphasizes the door more than John. Alternatively, “John opened the door” emphasizes John more than the door.

2. To emphasize the action itself, use the passive voice when the action is more important than the actor. For example, “The door was opened” emphasizes the door’s action more than who opened it. Alternatively, “John opened the door” emphasizes John’s action more than the door’s action.

3. To avoid identifying the actor, use the passive voice when you do not know or do not want to identify the actor. For example, “The door was opened” is less specific than “John opened the door.”

4. To create a more formal tone, use the passive voice when you want to sound less direct or aggressive. For example, “The door was opened” is less direct than “John opened the door.”

How does passive voice affect writing?

Passive voice has a reputation for being a bit awkward and harder to read than active voice, and for good reason. When you use the passive voice, the focus of the sentence is on the action rather than the person or thing doing the action. This can make your writing sound less direct and more uncertain.

For example, compare the following two sentences:

Active: The company hired a new marketing director.

Passive: A new marketing director was hired by the company.

The active sentence is more concise and straightforward. The passive sentence is longer and less emphatic.

The passive voice can also make your writing sound more formal and less intimate. For example, compare the following two sentences:

Active: My parents always tell me not to eat junk food.

Passive: I am always told by my parents not to eat junk food.

The active sentence sounds like a personal conversation, while the passive sentence sounds more like a lecture.

Overall, using the passive voice can make your writing sound more awkward and less emphatic. However, there are some cases where it can be useful, such as when you want to avoid putting the focus on the person or thing doing the action.

Why are passive verbs used instead of active verbs?

Active verbs are used to indicate that an action is being performed, whereas passive verbs are used to indicate that an action is being received or undergone. Passive verbs are often used when the performer of the action is not important or when the action is not the focus of the sentence. There are several reasons why passive verbs are often used in place of active verbs.

One reason for using passive verbs is that they can be used to create a sense of detachment or emotional distance from the action. For example, the sentence "The door was opened" creates a sense of detachment because the door is not the focus of the sentence. In contrast, the sentence "Someone opened the door" creates a sense of involvement because the focus of the sentence is on the person who opened the door.

Another reason for using passive verbs is that they can be used to hide the performer of the action. For example, the sentence "The windows were broken" hides the identity of the person who broke the windows. In contrast, the sentence "Someone broke the windows" reveals the identity of the person who broke the windows.

A third reason for using passive verbs is that they can be used to create a sense of suspense or mystery. For example, the sentence "The door was opened, but no one was there" creates a sense of mystery because the identity of the person who opened the door is unknown. In contrast, the sentence "Someone opened the door, but no one was there" creates a sense of suspense because the identity of the person who opened the door is unknown.

Finally, passive verbs are often used in academic writing because they are considered to be more formal and objective than active verbs. For example, the sentence "The windows were broken by a rock" is more formal and objective than the sentence "Someone broke the windows with a rock."