Active vs. Passive Voice
Write clear sentences without banning the passive voice. Read a concrete example, examine the trade-offs, and try a small exercise to see whether the principle applies to your situation.
Understand the language rule
- Start here. Active: The team published the report.
- Add context. Passive: The report was published by the team.
- Keep in mind. Use passive when the action or recipient matters more than the actor.
See it in context
“The team repaired the bridge” names the actor directly. “The bridge was repaired by the team” moves attention to the bridge. Both can be correct; active voice is often shorter, but passive voice can protect flow when the actor is unknown or irrelevant.
Prefer voice based on the reader’s information needs rather than treating grammar software warnings as commands.
Mistakes and exceptions
Eliminating all passive sentences is not an editing goal. Technical reports and process descriptions sometimes need to foreground the action or result.
Practice with your own text
Take one paragraph of your writing, underline its verbs and rewrite two long passive constructions. Keep the change only if it clarifies who did what.
Further reading and verification
Read the linked reference for additional background on words & writing. Review the applicable rules and update dates before using any example in a consequential decision.
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Published October 9, 2026 · BlogJD Editorial Desk · How we prepare and correct content · Report a correction.