Editing Tip: Active vs. Passive Voice

In active voice, you always know who's doing the action. In passive voice, the "actor" is in doubt. Use active voice for lively, engaging content in which you're trying to paint a picture. Use passive voice in instances when you want to avoid placing blame.

Examples:

P -- The plant has been shredded.
A -- The cat shredded the plant.
(I always knew it was the cat.)

P -- The homework was lost.
A -- The dog ate my homework.
(Blaming someone else is still active voice, as long as you can tell who's taking the hit.)

P -- Honey, the budget for electronic equipment has been exceeded.
A -- Honey, I bought a new car stereo.
(Correct approach depends on your spouse.)

Got an active/passive question? Send it in!

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