Where to use Passive Voice

‘Project Smart English’

Shaping Young Minds

Where to use Passive Voice

Generally use of active voice is recommended to make our writing easier to understand. However, passive voice can also be useful in some situations.  We may also use passive voice in following situations:

1.    When the receiver is more important that the doer/agent:                         

 Example:

The minister was bitten by a rabid dog. Writing this in the active voice (A rabid dog bit the minister) would make dog more important than the minister.

2.    When we do not know/cannot know the doer/agent. 

Example     

The man was found murdered in his hotel room.                                                                                 

They came back from the holiday & found their house had been burgled.

3.    When the doer is not important but the action is. 

Example        

Gas cylinder regulators must be switched off after cooking is done.                                                       

Corroded power cable should be replaced as quickly as possible.

4.    When the doer/agent is too obvious to need naming; 

 Example       

The murderer was caught & charged with manslaughter.

The chief minister was defeated in elections.

5.    When the accepted manner of writing on science, technology or academic subjects demands that, the doer remains faceless.   Examples                                                                                                 

The tumor was excised & tissue samples were sent for biopsy.                                

A portion of the sediment was treated with hydrochloric acid & precipitates analyzed.

6.    Defuse hostility- active can sometimes be too direct & blunt.

Examples 

Your performance has been found to be below minimum acceptable level.

Disciplinary action will be taken against you.

7.    To spread or evade responsibility by omitting the doer, e.g.

Examples 

Regretfully, your file has been misplaced

Your application for grant of loan has been rejected.

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