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Active Voice over Passive Voice
Strive to use active voice in your writing. Using active voices cuts down on unnecessary words and adds detail into your sentences by identifying a subject and action.
- Place subject first, then action.
- Identify subjects as much as possible to avoid ambiguity.
- Avoid passive linking verbs (is, are, was, were).
- Ex. She is living life to the fullest.
- Ex. She lives life to the fullest.
Examples
- Passive & Vague : A soft opening was reinstated.
- Active & Specific : UHD reinstated the soft opening at the beginning of the spring semester for a second consecutive time this academic year.
- Passive & Vague : The milk was spilled over an appliance
- Active & Specific: Dateline Faculty Advisor, Joe Sample, spilled milk over the new charging station last Monday.