Have you ever found yourself staring at a sentence and feeling a slight disconnect, a sense that something's a bit… indirect? Often, that feeling can be traced back to the passive voice. It’s a grammatical construction we encounter all the time, and while it has its place, it can also be a sneaky culprit behind wordy or unclear writing.
So, what exactly is the passive voice? Think of it as a way to shift the focus of a sentence. In an active sentence, the subject is the one doing the action. For instance, "Werner Heisenberg formulated the uncertainty principle in 1927." Here, Heisenberg is the actor, and he's performing the action of formulating.
Now, let's flip it. In the passive voice, the subject is the one receiving the action. So, "The uncertainty principle was formulated by Werner Heisenberg in 1927." See how the uncertainty principle, the thing being acted upon, now comes first? The actor, Heisenberg, is still there, but he's introduced with the word "by." And often, we don't even mention the actor at all: "The uncertainty principle was formulated in 1927." The key signal for the passive voice is usually a form of the verb "to be" (like 'is,' 'am,' 'are,' 'was,' 'were,' 'be,' 'being,' 'been') followed by a past participle (like 'formulated,' 'made,' 'built,' 'discovered').
When does this indirect approach actually come in handy?
When the Actor is Unknown or Irrelevant
Sometimes, we simply don't know who did something. Take the incredible cave paintings of Lascaux; they "were made in the Upper Old Stone Age." We don't know the specific artists, and for the purpose of appreciating the art, it might not matter.
Similarly, if an experimental solar power plant "will be built in the Australian desert," the focus is on the plant itself, not necessarily on the construction company doing the building. The actor is irrelevant to the main point.
When You Want to Be Vague (or Polite!)
Ah, the classic "Mistakes were made." This is a prime example of using the passive voice to avoid assigning blame directly. It's common in bureaucratic settings where clarity about responsibility isn't always the top priority.
For General Truths
Some statements are meant to be universally applicable. "Rules are made to be broken" isn't about a specific person making rules; it's a general observation about human nature.
To Emphasize the Recipient of the Action
If the thing being acted upon is your main topic, the passive voice can be your friend. For example, if you're discussing insulin, you might start with: "Insulin was first discovered in 1921 by researchers at the University of Toronto." This puts the discovery of insulin front and center, which is likely your focus.
In Scientific and Technical Writing (Traditionally)
For a long time, the passive voice was king in scientific genres, especially in lab reports and research papers. You'd see sentences like, "The sodium hydroxide was dissolved in water. This solution was then titrated with hydrochloric acid." The assumption is that the reader knows you (the researcher) performed these actions. The emphasis is on the experiment, not on the experimenter.
However, it's worth noting that this tradition is shifting. Many scientific fields are now encouraging the use of active voice, even using "we" to make the writing more direct and engaging. Always check with your instructor or guidelines if you're unsure.
When to Steer Clear of the Passive Voice
While useful, the passive voice can easily lead to confusion and wordiness, especially in academic and general writing.
It Can Create Vagueness and Confusion
Consider this: "She is courted." Who is doing the courting? Othello? Iago? Both? The passive voice leaves us guessing, which can be problematic when clarity about who is doing what is crucial.
In academic writing, where you're often comparing different researchers' ideas or your own arguments, ambiguity can be a real hindrance. "Research has been done to discredit this theory." Who did the research? You? Someone else? The lack of a clear actor makes it hard to follow the thread.
It Can Mask Weaknesses
Sometimes, students might use the passive voice to hide gaps in their knowledge. "The telephone was invented in the nineteenth century." If you couldn't find out who invented it, resorting to the passive voice might seem like a way to avoid admitting you don't know. But it often just highlights the missing information.
It Often Sounds Wordy and Indirect
Passive sentences tend to be longer and less punchy than their active counterparts. Compare: "Since the car was being driven by Michael at the time of the accident, the damages should be paid for by him." Now, consider the active version: "Since Michael was driving the car at the time of the accident, he should pay for the damages." The active version is shorter, clearer, and more direct.
How to Spot and Weed Out Passive Sentences
If you suspect you're overusing the passive voice, a good strategy is to go back through your writing specifically looking for it. Keep an eye out for those forms of "to be" followed by a past participle. Often, the actor will be missing or introduced with "by."
For example, "Poland was invaded in 1939, thus initiating the Second World War." To make this active, you'd ask: Who invaded Poland? Germany. So, you'd rewrite it as: "Germany invaded Poland in 1939, thus initiating the Second World War."
Another example: "Genetic information is encoded by DNA." The actor is DNA. The active version is: "DNA encodes genetic information."
Turning passive sentences into active ones often makes them stronger, shorter, and more precise. It might take a little extra thought to identify the actor, but the payoff in clarity and impact is usually well worth the effort.
