Passive Voice

What is Passive Voice?

It is a form of verb in which a subject undergoes the action of a verb.

i.e. They were killed

Passive words include;

Cause, Were, Had, Been, Will, Begin to, Actually, Might, Can, and Could.

But is Passive Voice good for your work?

Here are the Pros and Cons of using Passive Voice.

The Pros

1. Artsy

If used well, the Passive Voice can sound artsy or poetic. A lot of classics, such as Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, use this style.

The Cons

1. Distracts the Reader

Passive Voice pulls the reader out of your work. It makes the scene less urgent and unrealistic.

2. Length

Passive voice makes sentences longer. If the words aren't needed then don't use them.

You want your work to be 95% Active Voice and 5% Passive.

So, what is Active Voice?

The subject performs the action.

I.e. They killed them

If you find you gravitate towards Passive Voice, here's how to get rid of it.

Passive - The exam was failed by Tim.

Active - Tim failed the exam.

Passive - She was walking.

Active - She walked.

Good Luck!

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