Active vs Passive Voice: When to Use Each (With Examples)
Active and passive voice are two ways to structure sentences. Most writing guides recommend active voice for its directness and clarity, but passive voice has important uses too. Understanding both will make you a more versatile writer.
What Is Active Voice?
In active voice, the subject performs the action. The structure is: Subject + Verb + Object. This is the most natural and common sentence structure in English.
The chef prepared the meal. (subject: chef, verb: prepared, object: meal)
The team completed the project. (subject: team, verb: completed, object: project)
What Is Passive Voice?
In passive voice, the subject receives the action. The structure is: Subject + Form of "be" + Past Participle + (by + agent). The agent (the doer) may be included with "by" or omitted entirely.
The meal was prepared by the chef.
The project was completed. (agent omitted)
When to Use Active Voice
Active voice is preferred in most writing because it is direct, concise, and easier to understand. Use active voice for:
Most business and professional writing: Active voice makes your writing clearer and more authoritative. "We recommend the following changes" is stronger than "The following changes are recommended."
Creative and narrative writing: Active voice creates immediacy and engagement. "The dragon attacked the village" is more vivid than "The village was attacked by a dragon."
Instructions and procedures: Active voice is clearer for giving directions. "Press the red button" is better than "The red button should be pressed."
When to Use Passive Voice
Passive voice is useful in specific situations. Use passive voice for:
When the doer is unknown or unimportant: "The window was broken last night." (We don't know who broke it.)
When the receiver of the action is more important: "The patient was rushed to the hospital." (The patient is more important than who rushed them.)
Scientific and academic writing: Passive voice is traditional in scientific papers to maintain objectivity. "The solution was heated to 100 degrees Celsius." (Focus is on the process, not the researcher.)
To avoid assigning blame: "A mistake was made" is less accusatory than "You made a mistake."
How to Spot Passive Voice
Look for a form of the verb to be (is, are, was, were, been, being, am) followed by a past participle. If you can add "by zombies" after the verb and the sentence makes sense, it's passive.
The cake was eaten. → "The cake was eaten by zombies." (Passive — makes sense)
The cake was delicious. → "The cake was delicious by zombies." (Not passive — "was" is a linking verb)
Converting Passive to Active
To convert passive voice to active, identify the agent (who is doing the action) and make it the subject of the sentence.
Passive: The report was submitted by Sarah.
Active: Sarah submitted the report.
Passive: The decision was made.
Active: The committee made the decision.
Common Myths About Passive Voice
Myth: Never use passive voice. This is advice for developing writers, not an absolute rule. Passive voice has legitimate uses, as discussed above.
Myth: Any sentence with "was" or "were" is passive. "Was" and "were" can be linking verbs, not passive constructions. "She was happy" is not passive.
Myth: Passive voice is always wordy. While passive often adds words, the difference can be small. "The door opened" and "The door was opened" are similar lengths with different meanings.
Check Your Voice Usage
Use our word counter to track your sentence structure and reading time estimator to see how your voice choice affects readability. Active voice typically results in shorter, punchier sentences.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between active and passive voice?
In active voice, the subject performs the action. In passive voice, the subject receives the action. Active: "The dog chased the ball." Passive: "The ball was chased by the dog."
Is passive voice grammatically incorrect?
No, passive voice is grammatically correct. It is a stylistic choice that is appropriate in certain contexts, such as scientific writing or when the doer is unknown.
How do I check if my sentence is passive?
Look for a form of "to be" (is, are, was, were, been) followed by a past participle. Try adding "by zombies" — if it makes sense, the sentence is passive.