Active Voice over Passive Voice

Strive to use active voice in your writing. Using active voices cuts down on unnecessary words and adds detail into your sentences by identifying a subject and action.

• Place subject first, then action.
• Identify subjects as much as possible to avoid ambiguity.
• Avoid passive linking verbs (is, are, was, were).
  • Ex. She is living life to the fullest.
  • Ex. She lives life to the fullest.

Examples

• Passive & Vague : A soft opening was reinstated.
• Active & Specific : UHD reinstated the soft opening at the beginning of the spring semester for a second consecutive time this academic year.
• Passive & Vague : The milk was spilled over an appliance
• Active & Specific: Dateline Faculty Advisor, Joe Sample, spilled milk over the new charging station last Monday.