Using the active voice emphasizes the person or agent who performs an action. Using the passive voice emphasizes the recipient of the action, or sometimes the action itself. Take a look at the ...

Passive: “The treaty was signed by two generals.” Active: “Two generals signed the treaty.” In Modern English, New York University’s Marcella Frank provides a more academic treatment: “The active ...

Improve your public relations and marketing communications by writing in an active voice. Learn best practices for using the active vs. passive voice.

Passive Voice: "Responsible for answering phones and directing calls." Active Voice: "Answered calls and directed lines to the appropriate individual." See how the first example makes it sound ...

The passive voice allows frontloading of key words and phrases to increase readers' comprehension. The passive voice better expresses objectivity and a neutral, facts-based approach.

Chances are you've been told to avoid using the passive voice in business writing. What the heck is the passive voice, and what's wrong with it? How can you learn to avoid it?

Passive speech is awkward and sometimes hard to understand. Let Word find your passive voice content and help you correct it.

Writing in the active voice makes the meaning clear while keeping sentences from becoming complicated and wordy. Sentences using passive voice are not necessarily wrong, just less effective than ...