CONCISE WRITING GUIDE:

PASSIVE VOICE
Active Voice: Promoting Clarity:
In an active sentence, the subject (noun) is doing the action. For example, Greg loves sandwiches is an active
sentence, while Sandwiches are loved by Greg is a passive sentence.

Avoiding Passive Voice:

Starting your sentence with the subject (the noun that does the verb) is the best way to ensure that your sentence is
not passive. Compare these two examples:

1. The ball was thrown by Bobby.

2. Bobby threw the ball.

In the first example, the target of the action (the ball) is in the subject position. In this example, the ball is not
capable of acting on anything; however, Bobby can act on the ball. Ergo, the subject and action need to be switched.

Changing Verb Tense:

By promoting the acting noun to the subject position and changing the past participle thrown to threw, we
manage to eliminate two unnecessary words:
Leftover Words:
Promote noun capable of acting to the subject position
Was
By

The ball was thrown by Bobby. = Bobby threw the ball.

Change past participle verbs to their active form.

How to Identify Passive Sentences:

The distinction between active and passive voice is clear when the sentence is simple; however, identifying passive
voice becomes challenging when sentences become more complex. Thankfully, certain words lend themselves to
passive voice and indicate when a sentence could use work.
To locate passive voice, search your document for these words. When located, tinker with the sentences structure
until they are no longer necessary.

be being been am is
are was were been has
have had do did does
can could shall should will
would might must may

Its important to note that passive sentences are not grammatically incorrect; however, they are often an inefficient
way to share your thoughts and can make reading more challenging than it needs to be while overinflating
wordcounts.
CONCISE WRITING GUIDE:
PASSIVE VOICE