There are two voices in English: active and passive. Although both have their purposes, it’s important to understand the difference between them so you can use them correctly in your writing. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the two voices and provide some tips for using them effectively.
What is Active Voice?
Active voice is a style of writing in which the subject of the sentence performs the action. This contrasts with passive voice, in which the subject is acted upon. Active voice is typically more concise and easier to read than passive voice. It can also help to make your writing sound more assertive. For these reasons, active voice is generally considered to be the preferred style for academic and professional writing.
However, there are some situations in which passive voice may be more appropriate. For instance, if you want to emphasize the object of the sentence rather than the subject, passive voice can be a helpful tool. Ultimately, it is up to the writer to choose which style best suits their needs.
What is Passive Voice?
Passive voice is a sentence construction where the subject receives the action of the verb, rather than performing the action. For example, “The ball was thrown by the boy.” Passive voice often uses forms of the verb “to be” (am, is, are, was, were) and can make sentences sound weaker or less direct. In some cases, though, passive voice can be useful: when the actor is unknown or unimportant, or when emphasizing the recipient of the action.
Passive voice can also make sentence constructions more concise. For example, “Two hundred books were read by students in the class” can become “Students in the class read 200 books.” In general, active voice (“The boy threw the ball”) is preferable to passive voice, but there are exceptions to this rule. As with all aspects of writing, it’s important to use Passive Voice purposefully and not overuse it.
Difference between Active and Passive Voice
Active voice is used when the subject of a sentence performs the action. For example, “The cashier counted the money.” In this sentence, the subject (cashier) is doing the verb (counted). Passive voice is used when the subject of the sentence is being acted upon. For example, “The money was counted by the cashier.” In this sentence, the subject (money) is being acted upon by the verb (counted).
The main difference between active and passive voice is that, in active voice, the focus is on the doer of the action while, in passive voice, the focus is on the recipient of the action. Active voice is typically more concise and straightforward than passive voice. As a result, it is often used in academic writing. Passive voice, on the other hand, can be used to add emphasis or to avoid naming the doer of an action.
Conclusion
The difference between active and passive voice is an important one to understand, especially when it comes to writing. Understanding the difference can help you produce more concise and clear sentences that are easier for your reader to follow. In most cases, using the active voice is a better choice than the passive voice, as it makes your writing more engaging and forceful.
However, there are occasions where the passive voice may be more appropriate. By understanding when to use each form of narration, you can make sure your writing sounds polished and professional.
