Passive Voice

Passive voice produces a sentence in which the subject receives an action. In contrast, active voice produces a sentence in which the subject performs an action. Passive voice often creates unclear, less direct, wordy sentences, whereas active voice creates clearer, more concise sentences.

To change a sentence from passive to active voice, determine who or what performs the action, and use that person or thing as the subject of the sentence.

Examples

• PASSIVE VOICE: My first trip abroad will always be remembered by me. 
  PASSIVE VOICE: My first trip abroad is one I will always remember. 
  ACTIVE VOICE: I will always remember my first trip abroad.
• PASSIVE VOICE: On April 19, 1775, arms were seized by British soldiers at Concord, precipitating the American Revolution. 
  ACTIVE VOICE: On April 19, 1775, British soldiers seized arms at Concord, precipitating the American Revolution.
• PASSIVE VOICE: Thomas Jefferson’s support of the new Constitution was documented in a letter to James Madison. 
  ACTIVE VOICE: Thomas Jefferson documented his support of the new Constitution in a letter to James Madison.

Overuse of to be

(a related problem)

Using forms of to be (e.g., is, are, was, were) leads to wordiness. Use an action verb instead.

• Example: It is the combination of these two elements that makes the argument weak. 
  REVISED: The combination of these two elements weakens the argument.