Passive Voice: Understanding Its Use and Misuse

Passive voice is a grammatical structure used in English to indicate that the subject of a sentence is being acted upon rather than acting. In this structure, the object of the action becomes the subject of the sentence, while the doer of the action may not appear at all or may be introduced in a prepositional phrase or a “by” phrase. While passive voice can be a useful tool in certain contexts, it is often misused and can make writing unclear or overly formal. In this article, we will explore the appropriate use of passive voice and common mistakes to avoid.

Understanding Passive Voice

Passive voice is formed by using a form of the verb “to be” followed by the past participle of the main verb. For example, “The book was read by John” is a passive sentence, where “book” is the subject being acted upon and “John” is introduced in a “by” phrase as the doer of the action. In contrast, the active equivalent would be “John read the book,” where the subject “John” is doing the action of reading the object “book.”

Passive voice is commonly used in formal writing, scientific reports, and legal documents, as it can convey a sense of objectivity and detachment from the writer’s own opinions. Additionally, it can be used to put emphasis on the object or the action rather than the doer. For example, “The car was stolen” puts the focus on the object “car” and the action of stealing, rather than the doer.

Misuse of Passive Voice

While passive voice can be useful in certain settings, it is often overused or misused in everyday writing. One common mistake is to use passive voice unnecessarily when the active voice would be clearer and more concise. For example, “The experiment was performed by the researcher on the samples” can be simplified to “The researcher performed the experiment on the samples,” making the sentence more direct and clear.

Another mistake is to use passive voice to hide or obscure responsibility. For example, “Mistakes were made” is a classic case of using passive voice to avoid directly stating who made the mistakes. This can undermine the trust of readers and make the writer appear evasive or dishonest.

When to Use Passive Voice

Passive voice can be appropriate in certain situations, such as when the doer of the action is unknown, unimportant, or intentionally left out for stylistic reasons. For example, “The Mona Lisa was painted in the 16th century” does not require the doer, as the important information is the painting itself and its historical context.

Additionally, passive voice can be useful in scientific writing, where the emphasis is on the process or the results rather than the doer of the experiment. For example, “The samples were analyzed using gas chromatography” puts the focus on the method used, rather than the researcher who performed the analysis.

The Bottom Line

While passive voice can be an effective tool in certain contexts, it should not be used excessively or as a way to avoid responsibility. When using passive voice, make sure it is appropriate for the situation and that the sentence remains clear and direct. By understanding the nuances of passive voice, writers can improve the quality and clarity of their writing.