3 Ways to Fix Passive Voice in Your Writing
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Introduction:
The passive voice is a common issue in writing, making sentences sound weak and detached. However, it’s essential to know how to correct passive voice to create engaging, clear, and concise content. In this article, we’ll explore three ways to fix passive voice in your writing.
1.Identify Passive Voice:
The first step to fixing passive voice is identifying it. Generally, passive voice occurs when the subject of the sentence receives the action rather than performing it. For example:
Passive: The book was read by John.
Active: John read the book.
Look for key indicators such as forms of the verb “to be” (e.g., was, were, is), combined with a past participle (e.g., read, written, played). Once you find sentences with these characteristics, you can move on to rephrasing them
2.Rearrange Sentence Structure:
After identifying passive sentences, restructure them by moving the main subject before the verb and placing the object after it. This transformation will make your sentences active and dynamic. For example:
Passive: The cake was baked by Lisa.
Active: Lisa baked the cake.
By rearranging the sentence structure, you effectively eliminate passive voice and create a more engaging narrative.
3.Be Clear with Your Subject:
Sometimes, writers use passive voice when they’re uncertain about their subject or want to avoid mentioning it directly. However, this approach can lead to ambiguity and confusion for readers. So it’s vital to be clear with your subject so that your writing remains transparent and impactful.
For instance:
Passive: Mistakes were made during the project.
Active: Our team made mistakes during the project.
By clearly specifying your subject (“our team”), your writing becomes more focused and communicates the message directly.
Conclusion:
Fixing passive voice in your writing can greatly improve its quality by making your content more engaging, clear, and concise. By following these three steps—identifying passive voice, rearranging sentence structure, and being clear with your subject—you can easily transform your work into a polished and effective piece. So next time you sit down to write, keep these tips in mind and watch your writing skills flourish.