How to Fix or Avoid Passive Voice

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If you’re a writer, chances are you’ve seen advice against using the passive voice. It makes your writing wordy and ineffective. The thing is, it’s not always easy to spot. 

What is Passive Voice?

Passive voice happens when the subject of the sentence is not the one doing the action. It often sounds weaker or less clear than the active voice, where the subject takes the action.

Here is an example:

  • Passive voice: “The cat was chased by the dog.”
  • Active voice: “The dog chased the cat.”

In the passive voice, the focus is on the cat, but you know the dog is the one doing the chasing. It’s not wrong, but it can sound awkward or unclear, especially with longer sentences or when used too often.

Why Passive Voice Can Hurt Your Writing

To be clear, there’s nothing inherently bad about the passive voice. A lot of classic literature uses it. The problem is its misuse. 

For instance, passive voice can lead to:

  • Weaker sentences: Passive voice can feel detached or indirect. This can make a sentence less engaging.
  • Lack of clarity: Passive voice can make it unclear who is doing the action. This can confuse your audience, especially during fast-paced scenes.
  • Unnecessary complexity: Passive sentences often need more words to construct. This may make your sentences feel clunky or hard to decipher.
  • Boring characters: Passive sentences will make your characters feel reactive to everything that happens in your story.

You also need to consider that the standards of good writing have changed. What people praised years ago is no longer the trend today.

In modern writing, there’s a shift towards focusing on the reader’s experience. The active voice, being more direct, is the better tool for creating a sense of immediacy. This helps with audience immersion and creates a more dynamic flow.

Communications-wise, there is now greater emphasis on clarity, accessibility, and engagement. Many writers now aim to make their works direct and easier to understand for a broader audience. The active voice is also much better at creating a personal, conversational tone.

How to Identify Passive Voice in Your Writing

Passive voice can be difficult to spot, particularly after a long writing session. Here are three easy ways to identify it.

  1. Look for forms of “to be”: A lot of passive sentences use forms of the verb “to be” (is, was, were, are) combined with a past participle.
  2. Check for missing subjects: If the subject of a sentence isn’t obvious, it is likely passive.
  3. Use grammar tools: Tools like Grammarly or Hemingway can help spot passive constructions. They highlight sentences that need attention, making them easier to spot and fix. It’s a feature that’s usually included in their free versions too.

How to Fix Passive Voice

Now here are a few things you can do to reduce passive voice and create clearer, stronger sentences.

Focus on the subject.

Always put the subject in charge of the action. For example:

  • Passive: voice: “The fight was instigated by Jonathan.”
  • Active voice: “Jonathan started the fight.”

In an active sentence, the doer of the action is always clear. It’s also direct, needing fewer words.

Use strong verbs.

Cut down on “to be” verbs. Use active verbs instead to make your sentences more powerful and concise. So instead of saying “are told”, drop the “was” or use a single-word verb.

  • Passive voice: “The new policy was implemented by the management team after it was approved by the board.”
  • Active voice: “Management implemented the new policy after the board’s approval.”

Use specific subjects.

Instead of vague or general subjects like “it” or “they”, try to use specific people or things. This keeps your readers aware of who or what the subject is. It also keeps you from eliminating the subject from the sentence.

  • Passive voice: “A decision was made today.”
  • Active voice: “The board made a decision today.”

When is Passive Voice Okay?

Passive voice does have its place in writing. Remember, in creative writing, rules are meant to be broken. There are two passive verbs right there!

Some writers use passive voice to create a certain mood. For example, imagine you’re writing a story where a detective arrives at the scene of a gruesome murder. The passive voice can add a sense of distance, making the detective’s inner thoughts seem cold and analytical—as if they’re trying to suppress their emotions.

Sometimes, the doer isn’t even important! This is often the case when the subject is irrelevant or very general. For instance, “The law has been passed” doesn’t need to mention who passed it because the audience knows who holds that power.

Scientists and technical writers also frequently use passive voice in their writing. In these cases, the action is usually more important. That’s why you read a lot of research papers that go, “The experiment was conducted…”

The Bottomline

In today’s fast-paced world, many readers crave stories that pull them into the action right away. They want characters who are proactive, driving the plot forward rather than passively waiting for events to unfold.

The active voice is a powerful tool for this. It injects energy into your words, adding momentum to your story and making it feel more dynamic.

However, it’s just as important to recognize when the passive voice has its place. Much like how a repetitive beat in music can become tiresome, constantly relying on active voice can make your writing feel too one-note. Variety is key, and the passive voice can add subtle shifts in tone, pacing, and focus. 

How do you fix passive voice in your writing? Share them below!

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