How to Write in Active Voice (& Why it Matters)

Writers, bloggers, and marketing professionals are frequently advised to have an active voice when writing. While there is nothing wrong with utilising the passive form for non-scientific content, most readers prefer the active style. Ones written in the active voice are usually shorter and less prone to confuse sentences written in the passive voice.

In general, if possible, employ the active voice. Passive voice sentences are typically longer, more ambiguous, and can result in a tangle of prepositional phrases. This blog discusses How to Write in Active Voice & Why it Matters.

How to Write in Active Voice?

The passive voice is frequently used in scientific and bureaucratic writing because it conveys objectivity and formality. It’s easier than you think to write in the active voice. This is how you look for passive-voice sentences in your material. Keep the following points in mind while searching for passive voice readings:

• Sentences and phrases with the word “by” in them
• The topic isn’t stated explicitly in passive voice readings.
• “Have been,” “was,” and “where” are all forms of the verb “to be.”
• Verbs ending in “-ed,” for example, are past participle verbs.

Even if you’re writing about true events, you want to make a compelling story that readers will appreciate. You’ll understand why this isn’t the best method to design your sentences when you want to engage your readers if you’ve ever battled to remain awake while reading a reading written mostly in the passive person.

Why Active voice Matters?

Active voice is easier to read since it gets to the point with fewer words. The active voice uses short, direct remarks rather than convoluted sentences that need the reader to determine the meaning. 

Although using active voice in your writing can make your sentences shorter, passive voice isn’t always a bad thing. Your writing will be clearer and more direct if you keep it short. As a result, double-check your sentences to ensure that the major actors of each phrase are performing the sentence’s main verb.

Here’s a quick advice to help you get there:

• When verbs like “is,” “was,” “were,” and “are” are employed as assisting verbs, be aware. It may be difficult to pinpoint which is a passive voice sometime.
• In some circumstances, these verbs indicate that you’re utilising the passive voice, which is easy to avoid.

Writing in the active voice builds momentum, which helps keep your readers interested throughout the piece. When you utilise passive voice, your information may get dragged out and less interesting to read. The energetic voice gives the impression that something is happening right now. This can help you write at a faster rate. When writing in active voice, the actor takes centre stage rather than the action.

When you write in an active voice, you appear more authoritative and knowledgeable about the topic at hand.

A sentence you write in the active voice will always have fewer words than a sentence written in the passive voice. Additional words are frequently required in passive-voice sentences.