Passive Voice: How to Use It Correctly in Your Writing

The use of passive voice in writing is often a topic of debate among writers and editors. While some argue that it should be avoided at all costs, others believe that it has its place and can be used effectively. Understanding how to use passive voice correctly can help you improve the clarity and style of your writing.

What is Passive Voice?

Passive voice is a grammatical construction in which the object of a sentence is made the subject, and the subject is made the object. In other words, the focus is on the recipient of an action, rather than the doer of the action.

For example, consider the sentence "The cake was eaten by me." This is a passive construction because the subject (cake) is receiving the action (being eaten) and the object (me) is performing the action.

When Should You Use Passive Voice?

Passive voice can be useful in several situations:

When the doer of the action is unknown or unimportant, as in "The car was stolen."

When the focus is on the object of the action, as in "The cake was eaten."

When the subject of the sentence is being acted upon, rather than doing the action, as in "The window was broken."

When you want to avoid placing blame or responsibility on a specific person, as in "Mistakes were made."

However, it's important to use passive voice in moderation. Overuse can make your writing sound vague or evasive, and can weaken the impact of your message.

How to Identify Passive Voice

It can be helpful to know how to identify passive voice so you can evaluate whether it's appropriate in your writing. Here are some clues to look for:

The word "by" is often used to identify the doer of the action, as in "The cake was eaten by me".

Verb phrases that include "was" or "were" are often indicators of passive voice, as in "The window was broken."

The focus of the sentence is on the object of the action, rather than the doer, as in "The book was read by many people."

How to Use Passive Voice Correctly

If you decide to use passive voice in your writing, there are a few things you can do to ensure that you're using it correctly:

Make sure the subject of your sentence is clear and well-defined. Don't leave your reader guessing who or what is being referred to.

Avoid using passive voice in situations where it could be misleading or confusing. If the doer of the action is important to your message, make sure they are clearly identified.

If you're not sure whether to use passive voice or active voice, try rephrasing the sentence in both forms and see which one sounds better and makes more sense in the context of your writing.

Overall, the key to using passive voice correctly is to be aware of when it's appropriate, and to use it in moderation. With some practice, you can master this aspect of writing and improve the clarity and impact of your writing.