What is Passive Voice Misuse in Writing? How to Identify and Fix it

Introduction

Writers use passive voice to indicate that an action has been performed on the subject of a sentence instead of the subject performing the action. While passive voice can be used effectively in certain situations, it’s often misused in writing. This article will explain what passive voice misuse is, provide examples of common mistakes, and offer tips and strategies on how to identify and fix passive voice misuse in your own writing.

Examining Examples of Passive Voice Misuse in Writing

One of the easiest ways to identify passive voice misuse is by looking at examples. Here are some common examples of passive voice misuse in writing:

• The ball was thrown by the boy.
• The dog was chased by the cat.
• The paper was written by the student.

In each of these examples, the subject (boy, cat, student) is not performing the action (thrown, chased, written). Instead, the action is being done to the subject. To analyze the structure of each example, let’s break them down into their components:

• The ball was thrown by the boy.
• The dog was chased by the cat.
• The paper was written by the student.

In each sentence, the verb “to be” (was) is followed by a past participle verb (thrown, chased, written). This is a tell-tale sign of passive voice misuse since it indicates that the action is being done to the subject rather than by the subject.

Understanding the Difference between Active and Passive Voice

To properly identify and fix passive voice misuse, it’s important to understand the difference between active and passive voice. In active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action of the verb. For example:

• The boy threw the ball.
• The cat chased the dog.
• The student wrote the paper.

In each of these sentences, the subject (boy, cat, student) is performing the action (threw, chased, wrote). Now let’s compare the active and passive forms of each sentence:

• Active: The boy threw the ball. Passive: The ball was thrown by the boy.
• Active: The cat chased the dog. Passive: The dog was chased by the cat.
• Active: The student wrote the paper. Passive: The paper was written by the student.

As you can see, the active form of each sentence contains a clear subject and verb, while the passive form does not. This makes it easier to identify passive voice misuse in your own writing.

How to Identify and Fix Passive Voice Misuse

Now that you understand the difference between active and passive voice, here are some tips for recognizing passive voice misuse in your own writing:

• Look for sentences with the verb “to be” followed by a past participle verb (e.g., was thrown, were written).
• Look for sentences where the subject is receiving the action (e.g., the ball was thrown, the paper was written).
• Look for sentences where the subject is missing or unclear (e.g., The ball was thrown).

Once you’ve identified passive voice misuse in your writing, there are several strategies you can use to correct it. Here are some of the most effective strategies for fixing passive voice misuse:

• Replace the verb “to be” with an action verb (e.g., throw, write).
• Make sure the subject is performing the action (e.g., The boy threw the ball).
• Add a clear subject if one is missing (e.g., The boy threw the ball).

Common Mistakes Writers Make with Passive Voice

It’s easy to make mistakes when using passive voice, so it’s important to be aware of common pitfalls. Here are some of the most common mistakes writers make when using passive voice:

• Using too many passive sentences in a row.
• Failing to identify the subject of a sentence.
• Using passive voice when active voice would be more effective.

To avoid these mistakes, try to vary your sentence structure and make sure the subject is always clear. Additionally, consider whether active voice would be more appropriate in certain situations.

The Benefits of Using Active Voice Over Passive Voice

Using active voice instead of passive voice can have a number of benefits for your writing. For one, it makes your writing clearer and more concise since the subject is always clearly indicated. Additionally, active voice can make your writing more engaging and easier to read. Finally, using active voice can help you avoid awkward and wordy sentences, which can make your writing less effective.

Conclusion

In conclusion, passive voice misuse can be tricky for writers to spot, but understanding the difference between active and passive voice and following some helpful tips can help you identify and fix this common writing mistake. By recognizing and correcting passive voice misuse, you can improve the clarity and impact of your writing.