![]() ![]() ![]() Passive: The presentation was given by Tom. Let’s look at some examples of passive-to-active transformations: The key is identifying the subject performing the action and restructuring the sentence accordingly. Proofreaders often encounter passive sentences that can be improved for clarity and readability. How to Change Passive Voice to Active Voice “A new product was launched” places emphasis on the product, not the entity that launched it. To create object-centric focus: When you want to emphasize the object or the recipient of the action, passive voice is apt.For example, “Mistakes were made” doesn’t specify who made the mistakes. When there is an unknown or unimportant doer: If the doer is unknown or unimportant in a sentence, passive voice is a handy choice.For instance, “The documents were stolen” emphasizes the theft over who committed it. When you want to emphasize the action: Passive voice can be useful when the action itself is more critical than the doer.However, there are times when it’s appropriate to use passive voice: Readers tend to favor active voice due to its direct and clear tone. Object + A “Be” Verb (e.g., is or were) + Past Participle of Main Verb + By + Agent.Ī delicious meal was prepared by the chef. Sentences that use passive voice follow this formula: In passive voice, the object becomes the sentence’s subject, and the doer is placed at the end or omitted. On the other hand, passive voice is a construction where the subject receives the action. Similarly, because active voice places emphasis on the subject performing the action, it can help readers place themselves in or envision a scene more vividly. Active voice can help writers “speed up” the narrative by making the action more direct and immediate. It works particularly well in character-driven narratives, where the focus is on the character’s emotions and decisions. You might notice that fiction writers often use active voice in their stories. We use active voice when we want the reader to focus on the subject and action of the sentence. Sentences that use active voice follow this formula: As a result, writers are encouraged to use active voice. This form of expression is straightforward, direct, and often more engaging for readers. In active voice, the subject is the doer, and the action is directed toward an object. How to change passive voice to active voice when proofreading documentsĪctive voice is a sentence construction where the subject performs the action.By grasping the distinction between the two, you can help your clients improve the clarity and impact of their communications. Understanding the nuances of active and passive voice is a fundamental skill, but it is often overlooked, especially by newbie proofreaders. To describe a condition in which the actor is unknown or unimportantĮvery year, thousands of people are diagnosed as having cancer.What is the difference between active and passive voice? As a freelance proofreader or editor, you should be able to answer this question. The procedures were somehow misinterpreted. After long debate, the proposal was endorsed by. The data processing department recently presented what proved to be a controversial proposal to expand its staff. To keep the subject and focus consistent throughout a passage To emphasize the action rather than the actorĪfter long debate, the proposal was endorsed by the long-range planning committee. There are sometimes good reasons to use the passive voice. If the subject of the sentence is somewhat anonymous, see if you can use a general term, such as “researchers,” or “the study,” or “experts in this field.”.Rewrite the sentence so that the subject buried in the “by” clause is closer to the beginning of the sentence. If you find one, the sentence may be in the passive voice. Look for a “by” phrase (e.g., “by the dog” in the last example above).Here are some tips and strategies for converting sentences from the passive to the active voice. ![]() Passive: It was earlier demonstrated that heart attacks can be caused by high stress. Passive: It is believed by the candidate that a ceiling must be placed on the budget by Congress.Īctive: Researchers earlier showed that high stress can cause heart attacks. In a sentence written in the passive voice, the subject receives the action.Īctive: The candidate believes that Congress must place a ceiling on the budget. In a sentence written in the active voice, the subject of sentence performs the action. Passive voice sentences often use more words, can be vague, and can lead to a tangle of prepositional phrases. Generally, try to use the active voice whenever possible. ![]()
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