The Passive Voice: What it is and When to Use it

The passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of a sentence receives the action rather than performing it. In other words, the focus is on what is being done to the subject rather than who is doing it. While the passive voice is sometimes criticized for being wordy and unclear, it can be useful in a variety of situations.

One common use of the passive voice is to emphasize the action or event being described. For example, instead of saying “I made a mistake,” one might say “A mistake was made.” In this construction, the focus is on the mistake itself rather than on the person who made it.

The passive voice can also be used to avoid assigning blame or responsibility. For example, instead of saying “The company fired the employee,” one might say “The employee was let go.” This construction allows the speaker to describe what happened without placing emphasis on who made the decision.

Additionally, the passive voice can be useful in scientific or technical writing, where the focus is on the object or phenomenon being studied rather than on the people who are studying it. For example, a scientist might write “The sample was analyzed” rather than “I analyzed the sample.” In this way, the passive voice helps to maintain objectivity and avoid personal bias.

However, it is important to note that the passive voice can also be overused, leading to confusion or ambiguity. For example, if the subject of a sentence is unclear or omitted, it may be difficult for the reader to understand who or what is being described. Additionally, the passive voice can sometimes make a sentence longer and more convoluted than it needs to be.

Here are some examples of the passive voice in action:

• The cake was baked by my grandmother.
• The book was written by a famous author.
• The house was built in the 1800s.
• The experiment was conducted using a double-blind design.
• The movie was directed by an up-and-coming filmmaker.

In each of these examples, the focus is on the object or event being described rather than on the person or thing performing the action.

In conclusion, the passive voice can be a useful grammatical construction in certain situations. It can help to emphasize the action being described, avoid assigning blame or responsibility, and maintain objectivity in scientific or technical writing. However, it is important to use the passive voice judiciously and avoid overusing it, as it can sometimes lead to confusion or ambiguity.