Consistency in verb usage immediately elevates any manuscript. Tense consistency is one of the keys to better verb usage, and so is the choice between passive or active voice. In the active voice, the subject performs the action. For the passive voice, the subject is acted upon by the verb. In active voice, the actor is clearly apparent. In the passive voice, this actor becomes obscure. Passive voice thus constitutes a form of indirect speech, and active voice a form of direct speech.
Most writing manuals recommend the active voice over the passive voice, but each has its place. What are some of the practical uses of each?
Choosing between passive and active voice
Passive voice frequently gets a bad rap. It inevitably raises the word count and complicates the sentence structure. It can also make ideas sound weak or indefinite. At the same time, there are good reasons for the the association between the passive voice and formal writing. Passive voice allows authors to moderate claims and to establish some objective distance from tentative conclusions or general observations. Active voice, meanwhile, generally strengthens declarative statements, making them punchy and forceful. In addition, because active voice requires fewer auxiliary supports, using the active voice often helps to tighten up and focus a text.
One of the quickest ways to identify passive voice is to look for variations of “to be” (“is,” “am,” “are,” “were,” “be,” “been,” “being”). Passive voice requires these forms of “is” to couch the verb and provide context.
Tip: The more instances of “to be” variations in a text, the greater the prevalence of passive voice.
Most writers understand this background, and the question really is when to choose between passive and active voice. For writers concerned that they may rely too much on passive voice, context provides some useful clues. Consider the following sentences:
- The argument of this chapter is developed in three stages.
- This chapter develops the argument in three steps.
These sentences have similar meanings, but a slightly different emphasis. In the first, “the argument” is the subject and the chief focal point. The second sentence shifts the subject (and the emphasis) to “chapter.” The first sentence is more specific and relevant if the paragraph focuses on explaining the argument. If the sentence appears within the context of a broader explanation of the book’s contents, the second is more appropriate.
Tip: When deciding between passive or active voice, let context be the guide.
More writing tips
While context usually governs the choice between voice, it often becomes impractical to comb through an entire manuscript to inspect every single instance of verb choice (this is why editors have jobs). Nevertheless, before sending a manuscript off to an editor, there are a couple of places where authors can focus their attention if they want to finesse their usage of the active and the passive.
Tip: Emphasize the active voice in summaries.
Summaries provide authors an opportunity to showcase their conclusions, and (implicitly) to justify their project and open up future opportunities. The active voice amplifies and reinforces declarative statements, and thus lends itself well to introductions and conclusions. For authors who want to streamline and strengthen their text, focusing on these summary sections is a great place to start.
Tip: Look for instances of “could be” or “there is/are” to replace with the active voice.
These phrases provide easily identifiable instances where authors can transform the passive into the active without losing too much specific meaning. In the case of “could be,” it often gets substituted into texts as a way to hedge an idea that is not actually conditional. Eliminating this waffling phrase tightens the text and allows actual conditional phrases to stand out from the rest of the manuscript.
- This outcome could be due to several factors.
- Several factors likely influenced the outcome.
When it comes to “there is/are,” this phrase has a couple of synonyms that can be used to provide variety of the text (“exist,” for instance). Because it also functions as a basic identification phrase, it is also relatively easy to switch the subject around without losing any emphasis:
- There was no one behind the counter at the checkout.
- No one staffed the checkout counter.
Final Thoughts
One final key aspect of choosing between active and passive in the writing process is the audience: Who might read the manuscript and why? Does the manuscript need to inform or persuade? Is this text targeted at policymakers, grant organizations, or other researchers? More specifically, who is the ideal reader of the text?
If the targeted audience needs primarily description, then the use of the passive voice makes more sense. An audience that requires persuasion, however, may respond better to greater use of the active voice. Identifying the audience (especially the ideal audience) gives these stylistic decisions a slightly firmer basis than pure stylistic preference.
