#WRITING IN ACTIVE VOICE HOW TO#

Forms of the verb “to be,” such as “have been,” “was,” or “where”.Sentences and phrases that include the “by” clause.First, check your content for passive voice sentences. Writing in the active voice is easier than you think. That’s where the active voice can make all the difference. Your readers may lose interest or find the text ambiguous.Īs a rule of thumb, you should try to get your point across in as few words as possible. Passive voice sentences are more complex and hence require more cognitive effort than those using the active voice. As a result, it may affect your SEO efforts, as well as the message you want to convey. A blog post, article, or website page that overuses the passive voice will be more difficult to read and understand. Yoast and other SEO tools take into account the number of passive verbs as part of their readability analysis. Need one more reason to use the active voice in your writing? Think about search engine optimization, or SEO. Plus, it makes your sentences more concise and less wordy. This approach also evokes emotions, as in: “The criminals stole her purse and left her in tears.” Don’t you feel sorry for the character after reading this?ĭepending on the context, the active voice may create a sense of urgency. When you use the active voice, your tone becomes more conversational and natural. As a result, your brand story or blog posts will be less engaging. They may also give the impression that very little action is taking place. Passive verbs, by comparison, make your writing sound more formal. They also use concrete verbs, making it easier to communicate with your readers. Plus, your readers won’t have to guess what you mean.Īctive voice sentences clearly state the action being performed, which helps eliminate confusion.

The active voice can make your writing more powerful and engaging. Why Is It Important to Use the Active Voice? “Are,” the plural form of the verb “to be,” is simply describing how they feel about a particular situation. Note that using the verb “to be” (in any form) doesn’t always constitute the passive voice.įor example, the sentence “Your kids are concerned about this problem” isn’t passive. The preposition “by” typically precedes the subject. Passive voice sentences, by comparison, start with the object followed by a passive verb. These sentences have a basic structure: subject, verb, and object.

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Active voice sentences are more dynamic and succinct and have a strong, direct tone. Likewise, you may use passive voice sentences when the performer is less important than the action, such as “The phone was charged for three hours.”Īs far as non-technical writing goes, the active voice is your best bet. However, passive voice sentences have a role in oral and written communication.įor example, it’s recommended to use the passive voice when the performer is irrelevant or unknown, as in: “The house was built in 1965.” In this case, the name of the building company (the “performer”) is not relevant. Most readers prefer the active voice over the passive voice-and so do the search engines.

The active voice, on the other hand, emphasizes the object or person performing the action. This structure emphasizes the object or person receiving the action. Mose sentences contain a form of “to be” followed by a past participle verb. Medical journals, technical reports, and scientific studies typically use the passive voice. Look for passive voice sentences and try to convert them to the active voice.įor example, would you prefer to say “The technician fixed my computer” or “My computer was fixed by the technician?” The first sentence sounds better, isn’t it? It’s shorter, easier to read, and highlights the logical flow of action.īut what’s the difference between the two from a reader’s standpoint? Does it matter when it comes to search engine optimization? Most importantly, when should you use the active voice and when to use passive voice sentences?

#WRITING IN ACTIVE VOICE HOW TO#

If you’re wondering how to write in an active voice, know that practice is the key. Active voice sentences are typically shorter and less likely to create confusion than those written in the passive voice. While there is nothing wrong with using the passive voice, most readers prefer the active voice for non-scientific content. Writers, bloggers, and marketing professionals are often told to write in an active voice.

Writing in active voice