Active vs Passive Voice
The voice of our sentences can help give our audience a better idea of whether the subject is
receiving or performing the action of our verbs. Voice can also be used to either clearly or
vaguely demonstrate blame or responsibility. Depending on your rhetorical goals in your
writing, you may want to use active voice over passive voice or vice-versa.
Active Voice
Active voice emphasizes the subject who performs the action. There should be a clear actor and
receiver of the action.
Ex: Her group presented the project in class.
[actor] [verb] [receiver]
Passive Voice
Passive voice emphasizes the receiver of the action. Often times, the verb form of passive voice
includes a “to be” verb. If you want to make clear who the actor of the action is, “by” will often
precede the actor. However, there will be times when you want to make the actor ambiguous.
Ex: The security file was deleted by the new intern.
[receiver] [to be verb] [actor]
The security file was deleted.
[receiver] [to be verb]
Notice how in the second sentence above, it’s not clear who actually deleted the file.
Deciding on Active Voice
Active voice is ideal when you want to connect with the reader. Active voice engages the reader
more effectively than passive voice thanks to its language being a bit stronger.
Active Voice: The accountant stole money from the company.
Passive Voice: Money was stolen from the company.
Active voice lends itself to clearer language because it’s more direct and clearly shows who is
doing what to whom.
Active Voice: The telemarketers started their strike two days ago.
Passive Voice: The strike was started two days ago.
Active voice is ideal when you want to show that someone was responsible for something.
Active Voice: I made several mistakes.
Passive Voice: Several mistakes were made.
