Writing in the active voice
When should I write in the active voice?Using the active voice is a key principle of plain English writing and helps to make a document more personal, direct and easier to follow. As a writer you should use the active voice in information, imaginative and persuasive texts, as that is the way we normally speak to one another. When you write a sentence using the passive voice, the emphasis is placed on the action rather than the actor. The object (what was acted on) is placed before the verb. The actor (who did the acting) is placed after the verb or is not mentioned. Changing a passive sentence to active is easy. You simply put the agent into the sentence and place it before the verb. Not only are active sentences more explicit and personal, they tend to be shorter. A clear and direct sentence is almost always better than a long one.
Journalists and report writers use active voice in their writings to ensure the meaning is clear and precise.
Sentences 2 and 3 use noun groups as the object, creating static and longer sentences. Use verbs in active voice whenever possible. |
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