What are some strategies for avoiding the passive voice in writing?

Active Passive Voice Questions Medium



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What are some strategies for avoiding the passive voice in writing?

There are several strategies that can be employed to avoid using the passive voice in writing:

1. Use active verbs: Choose strong and specific verbs that clearly indicate the subject performing the action. This helps to make your writing more engaging and direct.

Example:
Passive voice: The cake was baked by Mary.
Active voice: Mary baked the cake.

2. Identify and rephrase passive constructions: Look for sentences where the subject is being acted upon rather than performing the action. Rewrite these sentences to emphasize the subject as the doer of the action.

Example:
Passive voice: The report was written by John.
Active voice: John wrote the report.

3. Focus on the subject: Ensure that the subject of the sentence is clear and placed at the beginning. This helps to maintain a clear and active voice throughout your writing.

Example:
Passive voice: The decision was made by the committee.
Active voice: The committee made the decision.

4. Avoid using "to be" verbs excessively: Passive voice often relies on forms of "to be" (e.g., is, was, were). Try to minimize the use of these verbs and replace them with more active alternatives.

Example:
Passive voice: The project was completed by the team.
Active voice: The team completed the project.

5. Pay attention to sentence structure: Ensure that the subject is performing the action directly and that the sentence structure is straightforward. Avoid unnecessary phrases or clauses that can lead to passive constructions.

Example:
Passive voice: The book, written by a famous author, was read by many people.
Active voice: Many people read the book written by a famous author.

By implementing these strategies, you can effectively avoid the passive voice in your writing and create more dynamic and engaging sentences.