Good study skills are needed to succeed in college. The customer was being helped (by the clerk). The behavior of two groups of children was compared (by the researchers). The verb must include a form of be, followed by a past participle (normally an -ed ending). The actor moves to the end of the sentence with by or drops off altogether if it is unimportant or unknown. Passive Voice: The subject of the sentence is now being acted upon. Students need good study skills to succeed in college. The researchers compared the behavior of two groups of children. Solutions Understand how both active and passive sentences are structured.Īctive Voice: The subject of the sentence is the one doing the action. That is why the grammar check on word processing programs highlights all passive constructions-it gives writers a chance to consider whether each choice is appropriate according to the purpose of the sentence.

When instructors draw attention to the problem, some students overcompensate, eliminating all passive voice from their writing.Īlthough many academic writers often favor active voice because it is direct and concise, both voices are useful and necessary. passive voice Problemīeginning or inattentive writers tend to overuse passive voice, which can weaken their prose, lead to the omission of important information, and make them appear unsure of their ideas. Center for writing | student writing support | style | active vs.

Whats an active voice