active vs passive voice in academic writing

The active voice can often add clarity, but occasionally the passive voice might be the best option. The voice you use can make a big difference in your writing. Therefore, switching sentences from the passive to the active voice might help reduce the word count of an assignment. The passive voice also tends to use more words than the active voice. As a result, the writing might be difficult to read. Readers might find it unnatural or clumsy. In this case, although the passive voice is grammatically correct, it does not have the same impact or clarity as to the active voice. Passive voice: The relationship between stress and high blood pressure was found in the study conducted by Joe. In the passive voice, the subject is acted upon. The active voice makes sentences clearer, more direct, and more concise.Īctive voice: Joe found a relationship between stress and high blood pressure. In the passive voice, the verb 'to be' ( was) is used to show that 'the boy' is the receiver. In the active voice, the focus is on the subject and in the passive voice, the focus is on the receiver. What is the major difference between the active and passive voice? In these sentences, 'the boy' receives the 'slap'. The receiver is the person/thing/animal that receives the action. In the above sentences, 'Joe' performs the action. The subject is the person/thing/animal that carries out the action. In both sentences, the action is 'slapped'. Passive voice: The boy was slapped by Joeīoth the sentences are saying the same thing and the meaning is the same, but the expression is different.

Active vs passive voice in academic writing