In the active voice, the subject does the action; in the passive voice, the subject receives the action. Although both voices are grammatically correct, the active voice is usually more effective because it is clearer and more direct.

Passive sentences often identify the actor in a by phrase, as in the preceding example. Sometimes, however, that phrase is omitted, and who or what is responsible for the action becomes unclear: The fly ball was caught.

Most of the time, you will want to emphasize the actor, so you should use the active voice. To replace a passive verb with an active one, make the actor the subject of the sentence.

The revision emphasizes the actors (settlers) by naming them in the subject.

Appropriate uses of the passive

The passive voice is appropriate to emphasize the receiver of the action or to minimize the importance of the actor.

The writer of the first sentence wished to emphasize the receiver of the action, Hawaiians. The writer of the second sentence wished to focus on the tobacco plants, not on the people spraying them.

In much scientific writing, the passive voice properly emphasizes the experiment or process being described, not the researcher. Check with your instructor for the preference in your discipline.

be verbs

If using a be verb makes a sentence needlessly dull and wordy consider replacing it. Often a phrase following the verb contains a noun or an adjective (such as violation, resistant) that suggests a more vigorous, active verb (violate, resist).

Violate is less wordy and more vigorous than be in violation of.

Resisted is stronger than was resistant to.