Be Aware of the Use of Passive Voice
Active voice versus passive voice: The subject performs the action in sentences written in active voice ("The bird pecked me."); while, the subject is acted upon in passive voice ("I was pecked by the bird.")
As shown above, writing in passive voice can create longer sentences. Using passive voice can also create sentences that have odd wording.
Example of active voice being used to replace awkard worded passive voice:
"The song was being danced to by students," could be better phrased by writing "Students danced to the song.
Although monitoring your usage of passive voice is wise when attempting to write concisely, completely removing it from your work is unnecessary. Students are often encouraged to write in passive voice in scientific disciplines, because it allows for a certain distance between the individual and research, suggesting objectiveness. Additionally, writing in passive voice is useful when attempting to highlight the thing or person that is being affected by the action.
As shown above, writing in passive voice can create longer sentences. Using passive voice can also create sentences that have odd wording.
Example of active voice being used to replace awkard worded passive voice:
"The song was being danced to by students," could be better phrased by writing "Students danced to the song.
Although monitoring your usage of passive voice is wise when attempting to write concisely, completely removing it from your work is unnecessary. Students are often encouraged to write in passive voice in scientific disciplines, because it allows for a certain distance between the individual and research, suggesting objectiveness. Additionally, writing in passive voice is useful when attempting to highlight the thing or person that is being affected by the action.