Active vs. Passive Constructions

The passive voice is a grammatical construction in which the subject of the sentence is not the performer of the action but rather the recipient or target of the action. In passive sentences, the verb is formed by combining a form of the verb “to be” with the past participle of the main verb.

Instead of the actor being the subject of the sentence, the focus is placed on the object or the action itself. The performer of the action may or may not be explicitly mentioned.

Here are some examples of active voice and passive voice constructions:

Active Voice	Passive Voice
The student wrote the essay.	The essay was written (by the student).
Our team will launch the new product next month.	The new product will be launched (by our team) next month.
The chef prepared a delicious meal.	A delicious meal was prepared (by the chef).
The band is performing a concert tonight.	A concert is being performed (by the band) tonight.
Scientists have discovered a new planet.	A new planet has been discovered (by scientists).
The company will implement strict security measures.	Strict security measures will be implemented (by the company).
The author signed copies of her book.	Copies of her book were signed (by the author).
The committee has approved the proposal.	The proposal has been approved (by the committee).
The instructor graded the exams.	The exams were graded (by the instructor).
The artist painted a beautiful landscape.	A beautiful landscape was painted (by the artist).

In the passive voice examples, the subjects (“the assignment,” “an excellent novel,” “a new product line”) are not the actors performing the action. Instead, they are the recipients or targets of the action expressed by the verb (“was completed,” “was written,” “was launched”).

The actor or performer of the action can be omitted entirely in passive constructions, as in “The assignment was completed” or “A new product line was launched.” This allows writers to shift the focus away from the performer and onto the action or the recipient of the action.

The passive voice can be useful in situations where the actor is unknown, unimportant, or when the emphasis needs to be placed on the action itself rather than the performer. However, overuse of the passive voice can lead to unclear, wordy, and impersonal writing, so it’s generally recommended to favor the active voice whenever possible.

Avoiding the passive voice

The passive voice is often discouraged because it can make sentences sound impersonal, wordy, and lack directness. It can also obscure the agent or performer of the action, leading to ambiguity or evasiveness. Here are some reasons to avoid the passive voice:

1. It can make sentences longer and more complicated than necessary.
2. It can create a sense of ambiguity or vagueness, especially when the agent is not mentioned.
3. It can make the writing sound impersonal or detached.
4. It can shift the focus away from the agent or performer of the action.

When constructing a sentence in the passive voice, pause and evaluate whether introducing the sentence with the actor or performer of the action would enhance the impact and clarity of your point.

This consideration becomes particularly relevant when discussing previous research findings or studies. Employing active constructions that explicitly attribute the findings to their respective researchers or authors can lend more credibility and persuasiveness to your writing.

Using the passive voice

Certain academic writing styles discourage the use of first-person pronouns. In such instances, the passive voice can be employed as an alternative when referring to your own actions or work.

Here are some examples of active voice with first-person pronouns and their corresponding passive voice constructions to avoid first-person pronouns:

Active Voice (First-Person)	Passive Voice
I conducted the research study.	The research study was conducted.
We developed a new algorithm.	A new algorithm was developed.
In our analysis, we found significant results.	Significant results were found in the analysis.
My team and I designed the software.	The software was designed.
I will present the findings at the conference.	The findings will be presented at the conference.

When using the passive voice in more complex sentences, it’s essential to ensure that the modifiers are clearly connected to the intended subject to avoid ambiguity or dangling modifiers.

The passive voice is also appropriate when the subject or performer of an action is unknown or unimportant to the meaning of the sentence.

Example:
“The window was broken last night, but the culprit is unknown.” (The focus is on the action rather than the actor.)