The lack of emphasis on the actor has also made the passive voice the primary choice when it comes to scientific or academic writing. In particular, mystery writers are big fans of the passive voice since it allows them to conceal secrets within their stories. For instance, many authors use it as a tool in fiction writing.

However, this does not necessarily mean that using the passive voice should be avoided at all costs. When improperly written, it can also sound awkward and vague, especially when the subject of the sentence is only implied and not deliberately mentioned. As can be seen in the example above, the passive voice usually requires more words. This might be because doing so can make your writing more concise. Some people believe that sentences should be written in the active voice whenever possible. When do I use the active or the passive voice? Another clue to look out for is the absence of an object in the sentence, which can indicate that this is written using the passive voice, although it is possible to have an active sentence without an object

For instance, 'I am eating a pie' is in the active voice despite the 'be' verb ('am'). However, it is still possible for a sentence to be in the active voice despite having a form of the 'be' verb in it. One indicator that a sentence is written in the passive voice is that it comes with a 'be' verb followed by a past participle. The object (cake) was the recipient of an action (baked), which was performed by the subject (Julie). The passive voice, on the other hand, is when the object is acted upon by the subject of the sentence. In the above example, the subject/actor (Julie) performed the action (baked) on an object (cake). The active voice is so called because the subject of the sentence is the doer of an action that affects the sentence's object. 'Voice' refers to the connection between the subject and the object of a sentence, which is linked through a verb. What's the difference between the active and passive voice? This article gives a definition of both voices, as well as examples of situations when each can be used properly. It may sound strange to hear that written sentences have voices, and even stranger to know that there are debates on which of the two – passive and active – is the better option when it comes to writing.

'When to use the active and passive voice in writing'

Passive voice to active voice