Have you ever submitted an essay only to hear the same critique over and over again:
“Make your writing more active” or “Avoid passive constructions”? If that sounds like something you’ve stressed over, having a blank-page panic, you’re not alone! Active vs. passive voice is one of the most common student writing challenges. I remember being there myself - sitting in a library, writing my first term paper, and thinking: “Active or passive... what even is this? Why does it matter so much?” In this article, I’ll guide you through real-life examples, simple explanations, and a few a-ha moments from my journey to stress-free writing. Plus, I’ll share actionable tips and useful tools to help you practice using active and passive voices!
Active vs. Passive Voice: Know the Fundamentals
Let’s start simple. What does “voice” actually mean in English? In English grammar, "voice" is a quality of a verb that shows the relationship between the action (or state) it expresses and the participants who take this action in the sentence (subject, object, etc.). Depending on these things, there are two primary types of voice: active and passive. What you should remember is that:
- In active voice, the subject does the action.
- In passive voice, the subject is acted upon or undergoes the action.
Quick Examples:
Active: The student wrote the essay.
Passive: The essay was written by the student.Obviously, in active voice, the subject (the student) performs the action (wrote). In passive voice, the focus is on the receiver of the action (the essay), and the doer is less important or even omitted.
Why Does Voice Matter? Real-Life Impact
I first discovered the power of voice when edited a history paper. My sentences, weighed down by passive constructions, felt lifeless and heavy. But once I rewrote them using active voice, my arguments became clearer, and my teacher’s feedback improved dramatically.
Active voice is generally used in:
- Academic writing
- Business communication
- Creative writing
Why? Because it’s more straightforward, concise, and dynamic.
When to Use the Passive Voice
You may have heard that passive voice is “bad,” but it’s not that simple. There are situations where passive voice is not only appropriate - it’s better. For example:
- When you don’t know who did the action:
“The window was broken last night.” (We don’t know who did it.) - When the doer is less important than the action:
“The law was passed in 2022.” - In scientific or academic writing:
“The solution was heated to 80°C.” (Focuses on the process, not the person.)
However, overusing passive voice can make your writing vague and convoluted. So the key is to keep your voice under control and use passive voice where appropriate.
Examples of Active and Passive Voice
I suggest you consider the following examples. Let’s look at how each voice shifts focus:
Active: Scientists found a new planet.
Passive: A new planet was discovered by scientists.See how active voice puts the scientists front and center, while passive emphasizes the discovery?
Active Sentences: Make Your Writing Stand Out
92% of teachers and editors recommend using active sentence constructions. Why? Because active sentences are:
- Clearer
- More engaging
- Easier to understand
- Stronger in arguments
Example:
Passive: The homework was finished by the students before class.
Active: The students did the homework before class. Sounds clearer and more readable, doesn’t it?Active voice is also more concise.
Here’s a tip: To make sure I use voice the right way, I draft my work first and then use AI writing tools like JustDone to highlight passive constructions I can revise.
How to Recognize Active and Passive Voice
Despite their obvious differences, it’s not always easy to detect where is which, especially in long or complex sentences. Here are some tips:
- Look for forms of "to be" (am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been) followed by a past participle (e.g., “was written”).
- Ask: Is the subject doing the action? If yes, it’s definitely active voice.
- Add “by someone” at the end—if it makes sense, it’s probably passive.
Example:
Active: They ate the cake.
Passive: The cake was eaten (by the children).However, if you're still unsure but short of time, JustDone can help again identify and revise passive voice.
Examples of Active and Passive Voice in Context
Let’s analyze the following examples of using active and passive voices in different contexts that may be especially helpful for students.
Science
Passive: The experiment was conducted by the team.
Active: The team conducted the experiment.History
Passive: The Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776.
Active: The Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776.Literature
Active: Critics praised the novel.
Alternative: Reviewers loved the novel.Let’s face it: active voice breathes life into your writing and connects better with readers.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
One of my lightbulb moments came while rewriting a chapter in my thesis. I had slipped into passive voice out of habit, especially when summarizing sources! The overall result looked awful - monotonous writing, unclear sentences, hard to read and understand. But fear not, my friend, because I have some recommendations on how to avoid these pitfalls. Here are my guidelines to get rid of passive voice:
- Read your sentences aloud: Are they clear? Is the subject really doing the action?
- Watch out for long, complex sentences—they often contain passive constructions.
- Flip the sentence: “Who did what?”
If you need extra help, online resources or AI tools can scan your document for passive structures and suggest improvements. For example, JustDone offers rewriting suggestions and explanations for each correction, making learning more interactive.
Practice Makes Perfect: A Self-Study Supplement
As long as you already know what is what in voice constructions, I offer you a quiz to test your understanding of active and passive voice.
Identify the voice:
- “The chemist found a solution.”
→ Active
Rewrite in active voice:
- “The students completed the homework.”
→ The students did the homework.
Which version is passive?
a) The students took a test from the teacher.
b) The students were tested by the teacher.
→ b) is passive
Change into passive voice:
- Alexander Bell invented the telephone.
→ The telephone was invented by Alexander Bell.
Want more practice? Use JustDone’s quiz generator or rewriting tools to make sure you know the material!
Using AI Technology: How JustDone Can Assist
As a student, I know how tough it can be to revise for clarity and style. That’s where smart technology can help. With over 25 tools, JustDone makes it easier to:
- Paste drafts and get suggestions for active/passive revisions
- Summarize long, passive-heavy paragraphs into short and sweet content
- Ask grammar questions in real-time via chat and check your grammar to make your writing error-free
Today, using AI writing assistants is like having a writing coach in your pocket. Don’t be shy to use it!
Conclusion: Voice, Mastery, and Academic Success
Knowing the difference between active and passive voice isn’t just a grammar trick—it’s a powerful way to sharpen your writing. Whether you’re writing an essay, lab report, or story, remember:
- Active voice = clarity and confidence
- Passive voice = useful when the doer is unknown or irrelevant
With practice - and advanced helping tools like JustDone - you’ll master both.
Happy writing!
