How to write in an active voice
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How to write with an active voice and not passive
When you write, do you find yourself using passive voices a lot? Passive voices are those in which the subject of the sentence is acted upon rather than being actively involved. For example, in the sentence “The cat ate the canary,” the cat is eating and the canary is being eaten. This type of sentence can be hard to read because it seems as if the canary is not doing anything.
What is the active voice?
The active voice is the voice of action. It’s the voice you use when you are talking about doing something yourself, rather than describing something that happened. In active voice, the subject (the person doing the action) is always in the first person, and they are always doing something themselves. Here’s an example: I opened the door.
This is an example of an active sentence because it shows the subject (I) doing something (opened the door). Passive sentences are usually used when someone else does something for us. Here’s an example: The door was opened by someone else.
This is an example of a passive sentence because it shows what happened (the door was opened). Active sentences are more dynamic and engaging because they show more action and involvement on the part of the speaker. They make your writing sound more powerful and engaging.
Why is the active voice important in writing?
Active voice is important in writing because it makes the speaker more active and participatory in the text. Inactive verbs often result in a passive voice, which can make the text feel less alive and more like a textbook. For example, take this sentence: The ball was kicked by Johnny. This sentence might sound factual, but it’s actually quite passive.
The ball is kicked by someone else – Johnny doesn’t do anything himself. In contrast, here’s the same sentence written in the active voice: Johnny kicked the ball. This sentence sounds more active and participatory, as if Johnny is taking direct control of kicking the ball. Active voice helps to make texts more engaging and reader-friendly.
How can you use the active voice in your writing?
Active voice is a writing technique that encourages readers to feel like they are taking part in the story.
To use active voice, start by assuming the role of your character. Ask yourself what the character would do in this situation. For example, if you’re writing about a person, ask yourself what the person would say or do in this situation.
Next, make sure all your verbs are action-oriented. Avoid using words like “is,” “are,” and “have.” For example, instead of saying “The cat sat down,” say “The cat jumped down.” Not only will this sentence be more engaging for readers, but it’ll also make your writing sound more active.
Tips for using the active voice in your writing
Active voice is always better than passive voice. Passive voice can make your writing sound dull and lifeless, while active voice makes your sentences sound more lively and engaging. Here are a few tips for using the active voice in your writing:
1. Use subjects and verbs that are action-oriented. For example, instead of saying “The door was opened,” say “A door was opened by someone.” This will make your sentence sound more active and interesting.
2. Make sure to use strong verbs. A list of verbs that are often used in the active voice are “launch,” “start,” “promote,” and “enable.” These verbs will help to make your writing sound more energetic and powerful.
3. Avoid using words like “it,” “that,” or “these.” These words often indicate passive speech and will not make your sentences sound as active as they could be. Instead, use words that are more action-oriented, such as “he,” “she,” or “they.”
4. Use present tense to make your writing sound more active. For example, instead of saying “The door is open,” say “The door is open now.” This will make your sentence sound more active and relevant.
5. Use active voice whenever possible. If you have to use passive voice, make sure to use it in a sparing and controlled manner. For example, instead of saying “The door was opened by someone who was not me,” say “A door was opened by someone.” This will still make your sentence sound active and engaging, but it will be less jarring than using the passive voice outright.
By following these tips, you can help to make your writing sound more active and engaging.
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What is an Active Voice?
Active voice is the use of verbs that indicate an action or a state of being carried out by the subject, rather than by an object. The following is an example of an active sentence: The dog ran across the street. n contrast, a passive sentence would be as follows: The street was crossed by the dog. Passive voice can be seen as less effective and more difficult to read because it often requires readers to work harder to understand what is happening. For example, in the first sentence, the subject – the dog – is doing the running; in the second sentence, the subject is being carried across the street.
Active voice is the use of verbs that indicate an action or a state of being that is taking place. For example, in the sentence “The cat chased the mouse,” the subject is the cat and the verb is “chased.” The object is the mouse. In this sentence, the action is happening between the cat and mouse. Passive voice would be written as “The mouse was chased by the cat.” This sentence implies that something else (the cat) was responsible for causing the action (the chase) to happen to the mouse. There are three main benefits to using active voice: it can be more engaging to read, it can sound more authoritative, and it can make your writing more clear. Here are some tips on how to write in an active voice:
1. Use verbs that indicate an action or a state of being that is taking place.
2. Make your verbs strong and concrete.
3. Use active voices when talking about actions that involve people or things that have feelings.
Passive Voice and why it’s bad for writing
When you use the passive voice, you’re telling the reader that something was done to them, rather than taking responsibility for their own actions. Passive language can make your writing seem unprofessional and unsure of itself.
Here are three examples of how to avoid the passive voice in your writing:
1. “The door was opened by someone who I didn’t see enter.”
2. “Documents were reviewed by a team of lawyers.”
3. “The proposal was debated by committee members.”
Examples of converting passive to Active voice
When writing in the passive voice, you use verbs that describe someone or something being done to them. For example, a car is driven. In contrast, when writing in the active voice, you use verbs that are acting on their own behalf. For example, the car drives itself. This change in verb tense can make your writing more active and engaging. Here are four examples:
Active Voice: The children were read a story by their teacher.
Passive Voice: The teacher was reading stories to the children.
Active Voice: The package was delivered to my house.
Passive Voice: The mailman delivered the package to my house.
Active Voice: I was elected president of my school’s student council.
Passive Voice: My school elected me president of its student council.
Conclusion
I hope this post has given you some tips on how to make your writing more dynamic and engaging for your readers. By using active voice, you’ll be expressing yourself more clearly and can draw the reader in to your story. In addition, by being more engaged with your readers, you’ll build a stronger relationship that will lead to future business opportunities. Thanks for reading!