 |
Follow the principles below to write sentences that are clear,
to the point, and easier to read.
|
Use the active voice
 |
At the heart of every good sentence
is a strong, precise verb; the converse is true as well--at the
core of most confusing, awkward, or wordy sentences lies a weak
verb.
Try to use the active voice whenever possible. |
|
| Active
vs. passive voice |
Active voice: Subject
of sentence does the action.
Passive voice: Subject receives the action.
| Active
voice |
Passive
voice |
The
candidate believes that Congress must place
a ceiling on the budget.
|
It
is believed by the candidate that a ceiling must
be placed on the budget by Congress. |
| Researchers
earlier showed that high stress can cause heart
attacks. |
It
was earlier demonstrated that heart attacks
can be caused by high stress. |
| The
dog bit the man. |
The
man was bitten by the dog. |
|
|
| Converting
sentences to active voice |
Here are some tips and
strategies for converting sentences from the passive to the active
voice.
-
Look for a "by" phrase (e.g., "by the
dog" in the last example above)
If you find one, the sentence may be in the passive voice. Rewrite
the sentence so that the subject buried in the "by"
clause is closer to the beginning of the sentence.
-
If the subject of the sentence is somewhat anonymous, see if
you can use a general term, such as "researchers,"
or "the study," or "experts in this field."
|
|
| When
to use passive voice |
There are sometimes good
reasons to use the passive voice.
| Use
passive voice . . . |
Example |
To
emphasize the action rather than the actor
|
After
long debate, the proposal was endorsed by the long-range
planning committee. |
| To
keep the subject and focus consistent throughout a passage |
The
data processing department recently presented what proved
to be a controversial proposal to expand its staff. After
long debate, the proposal was endorsed by . . . . |
| To
be tactful by not naming the actor |
The
procedures were somehow misinterpreted. |
| To
describe a condition in which the actor is unknown or unimportant |
Every
year, thousands of people are diagnosed as having cancer. |
| To
create an authoritative tone |
Visitors
are not allowed after 9:00 p.m. |
|
|
