Passive Vs Active Voice

Passive Voice
the subject receives the action expressed in
the verb
the subject is acted upon
the agent performing the action may appear
in a "by the . . ." phrase (or that phrase may
be omitted)

Passive Voice has 2

components:
a to be verb
a past participle
A decision was reached by the board.

Passive Voice Examples

The launch vehicle was driven by Dr.
Henshaw.
The big bang theory is supported by many
scientists.
The comet was first referred to in an ancient
Egyptian text.

Passive Preferred when

the agent is clear from the context of the
paragraph.
Students are required to take both writing
courses.
Who is the agent?

Passive Preferred when

the agent is unknown.
The comet was first referred to in an ancient
Egyptian text.

Passive Preferred when

the agent is less important than the action.
Computer chips are made of silicon.
It doesnt matter who made them.

Passive Preferred when

a reference to the agent is embarrassing,
dangerous, or inappropriate. (note: consider
ethics here)
Incorrect data was recorded for the flow rate.

Passive Preferred when

audience/editorship expects it. Journals,
textbooks, etc often use it for the air of
objectivity.

Active Voice
the subject performs the action expressed in
the verb
the subject acts

Also, it is the natural form of the English

sentence.

Active Voice Examples

Dr. Henshaw drove the launch vehicle.
Many physicists support the big bang
theory.
An ancient Egyptian text describes the first
comet.

Active Voice Preferred

because
energy is added to the writing
establishes responsibility

passive (more wordy)

active (more concise)

Purdue OWL

Passive Voice

Agent

Changed to Active Voice

most of the class

agent not specified; most likely

agents such as "the
researchers"

the CIA director and his close

advisors

agent not specified; most likely

agents such as "we"

Purdue OWL

Why do engineers prefer the

passive?
The passive sounds objective
Using I or We sound unprofessional
The passive voice emphasizes results
And two of these are flawed.

The passive sounds objective.

FLAWED
If you used a rational (objective) method to
collect and analyze your data and worked
honestly and carefully, your work is
objective.
Using passive voice does not convey
professional behavior.

Using I or We sounds
unprofessional.
FLAWED
Using these words does not make for
unprofessional work.
Hiding responsibility is unprofessional.
Not using these words may preserve the
status quowhich may be desirable,
however.

Passive voice emphasizes

results.
GOOD USE

Professional reports emphasize results and

the objects of actions.
The actor (who produced the results or
acted on the object) is less important.
Without the passive construction, report
writers would emphasize the wrong
information.

Comparisons
The flow rate will be
regulated by the air
pumps and the flow
meters.

Air pumps and flow

meters will regulate
the flow rate.

 Their inputs are fed

into the computer for
analysis, evaluation,
and direction.

They feed their input

into the computer for
analysis, evaluation,
and direction.

 It is estimated that
testing will require
one to two weeks, and
it is anticipated that
evidence of
biodegradation will
appear after a
maximum of two
weeks of testing.

Ablex Co. estimates

that testing will
require one to two
weeks, and we
anticipate that
evidence of
biodegradation will
appear after a
maximum of two
weeks of testing.

 Concepts and issues

were identified for an
initial staff
questionnaire from
reviews and field
surveys.

The supervisor
identified concepts
and issues for an
initial staff
questionnaire from
reviews and field site
visits.

Sources
Purdue OWL
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/prin
t/grammar/g_actpass.html
The Passive Engineer at
http://www.protrainco.com/info/essays/pass
ive.htm