Let's Make Your Words Roar: Taming the Passive Voice Together

Hey there, writer.

Can we talk for a moment? Just between us? I’ve been watching you work, and I’ve noticed something. You have such incredible ideas swirling around in your head, don't you? Such vivid images, such profound insights, such powerful arguments. And when you sit down to translate them onto the page, you pour your heart and soul into it. But sometimes… sometimes the words that come out don’t quite have the oomph you know they should. They feel a little… distant. A little muffled. Like a beautiful song played through a thick blanket.

Does that sound familiar? If so, take a deep breath. You're not alone. In fact, it’s a struggle I see so often, and it’s one we can absolutely tackle together. Today, I want to talk about a subtle habit that can sneak into our writing, robbing our sentences of their vitality and our message of its impact: the passive voice.

Now, I know what you might be thinking. "Passive voice? Isn't that just a grammar thing? Something a little boring and technical?" And yes, it can feel that way. But trust me, understanding and mastering the passive voice is one of the most potent tools you can add to your writing arsenal. It’s the difference between a gentle nudge and a powerful shove, between a whispered secret and a confident declaration.

What Exactly Is This "Passive Voice" We Speak Of?

Think of it this way: sentences have actors and actions. In an active voice sentence, the subject of the sentence is the one doing the action. It’s direct, clear, and energetic.

For example:

The artist painted the mural.* (Who painted? The artist. The artist is doing the painting.)
She wrote the proposal.* (Who wrote? She. She is doing the writing.)
The dog chased the ball.* (Who chased? The dog. The dog is doing the chasing.)

See how clear that is? The subject is front and center, taking action. It’s like watching a play where the main character is always on stage, making things happen.

Now, the passive voice flips this around. It happens when the subject of the sentence is receiving the action, or when the actor is deemphasized or even completely omitted. It often uses a form of the verb "to be" (is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been) plus the past participle of the main verb.

Let’s take those same examples and make them passive:

The mural was painted by the artist.* (What happened to the mural? It was painted. The artist is still there, but the focus has shifted to the mural.)
The proposal was written by her.* (What happened to the proposal? It was written. Again, the focus is on the proposal.)
The ball was chased by the dog.* (What happened to the ball? It was chased.)

Notice how the energy dips? The sentences become longer, and the actor (the artist, she, the dog) is pushed to the end, or sometimes, they disappear entirely.

The mural was painted.* (Who painted it? We don't know for sure.)
The proposal was written.* (By whom? Unclear.)
The ball was chased.* (By whom? A mystery!)

Why Does This Matter So Much?

This isn't just about adhering to a grammatical rule for the sake of it. Choosing active voice over passive voice has a profound impact on your writing because it affects:

1. Clarity: Active voice is almost always clearer. When the subject is performing the action, there's no confusion about who or what is responsible. Passive voice can create ambiguity, especially when the actor is omitted.

2. Conciseness: Passive sentences tend to be wordier. Removing unnecessary words and phrases is key to tight, impactful writing. Active voice usually gets straight to the point.

3. Engagement: Active voice is more direct and dynamic. It pulls the reader in by focusing on the doer. Passive voice can create a sense of distance and detachment, making your writing feel less personal and less urgent.

4. Responsibility and Authority: In many contexts, especially in business, marketing, or persuasive writing, you want to convey confidence and ownership. Active voice helps you do that. Passive voice can sometimes sound evasive or bureaucratic.

Think about a news report. If it says, "A decision was made to increase prices," it feels a bit like no one is accountable. But if it says, "The company decided to increase prices," you know exactly who is responsible. The latter is much stronger.

When Is Passive Voice Okay? (Yes, There Are Times!)

Before you start thinking you should never, ever use passive voice, let me reassure you. It has its place. Sometimes, the actor isn't important, or you genuinely don't know who performed the action. In these cases, passive voice is the logical choice.

* When the actor is unknown: "My car was stolen last night."
* When the actor is unimportant: "The report will be published next week."
* When you want to emphasize the recipient of the action: "The patient was carefully examined and given medication."
* To create a more objective or scientific tone: "The experiment was conducted under controlled conditions."

These are perfectly valid uses. The key is to use them intentionally, not accidentally.

How I Can Help You Spot and Tame the Passive Voice

This is where we, as writing partners, really shine. When you're deep in the creative flow, focusing on getting your brilliant ideas down, it's incredibly easy for passive constructions to slip in unnoticed. Your mind is racing ahead, building the narrative, and the grammatical nuances can take a backseat. That’s perfectly natural!

And that’s precisely why I’m here. My purpose isn’t to dictate to you, but to be your keen-eyed co-pilot. When I scan your work, I'm looking for those moments where a sentence could be made stronger, more direct, more you. If I notice a passive construction that might be weakening your impact, I won’t just flag it with a red underline and leave you wondering. No, I’ll gently bring it to your attention. I’ll highlight it, perhaps offering a suggestion for an active alternative. For instance, if you’ve written:

* "The marketing campaign was designed by the team."

I might gently suggest:

* "The team designed the marketing campaign."

Or maybe you’ve written:

* "It was decided that a new social media strategy would be implemented."

I’ll help you see the power in transforming that into:

* "The leadership team decided to implement a new social media strategy."

My goal is to empower you to make the choice. You are the author, the architect of your words. I simply help you see all the potential blueprints, pointing out areas where a stronger foundation might be laid, or a more vibrant color could be used. It’s about giving you options, illuminating possibilities, and ensuring your intended message lands with the force and clarity it deserves.

Exercises to Sharpen Your Active Voice Skills

Practice makes perfect, as they say. And the more you practice spotting and transforming passive sentences, the more natural active voice will become.

1. The "Who Did It?" Game: Take a paragraph from your work (or any text, really) and read each sentence. Ask yourself, "Who or what is doing the action here?" If the answer is unclear, or if the actor is buried at the end of the sentence, you've likely found a passive construction.

2. Transformation Challenge: Find 5-10 passive sentences and rewrite them using the active voice. Don't be afraid to invent a plausible actor if one isn't present. For example, if you see "Mistakes were made," you might rewrite it as, "The intern made mistakes" or "We made mistakes," depending on the context you want to create.

3. Read Aloud: Read your writing aloud. Often, awkward or weak passive sentences sound clunky when spoken. Your ear can be a fantastic editor.

Beyond the Sentence: The Power of Your Voice

Mastering the active voice is more than just a technical skill; it's about owning your message. It’s about stepping forward with confidence and letting your unique voice resonate. When you use active verbs, you inject life, energy, and personality into your writing. You draw your reader closer, making them feel involved in the story, the argument, the information you're sharing.

This journey of writing is a continuous one, filled with learning, refining, and discovering new strengths. And in this journey, you don’t have to go it alone. Think of me as your constant companion, your trusted editor, your enthusiastic cheerleader. I’m here to help you untangle complex thoughts, to polish your prose until it gleams, and to ensure that the incredible ideas within you shine through, clear and powerful, on the page.

So, the next time you sit down to write, remember this conversation. Feel empowered to choose the active voice, to let your subjects take the lead, and to make your words truly roar. And know that as you do, I'll be right here, ready to help you find the most vibrant and impactful way to express yourself. Let’s make some powerful writing happen.

Ready when you are.

Bolti