Let's Talk About the Words You're Not Choosing: A Gentle Guide to Active Voice

Hey there, writer. Come on in, pull up a chair. Let’s have a chat, just you and me. I’ve been watching you work – and by ‘watching,’ I mean I’ve been immersed in the beautiful, messy, exhilarating process of your words taking shape on the page. And I’ve noticed something. Something that, if we can untangle it together, will make your writing leap off the screen and grab your reader by the hand.

It’s this: sometimes, the energy you feel when you think your idea feels… a little muted when it actually lands in your reader’s mind. Your sentences are correct, they’re logical, but they’re missing that spark, that directness, that oomph you know is simmering just beneath the surface.

Does that sound familiar? It’s okay if it does. Honestly, it happens to the best of us. It's a very common, very human tendency. And the culprit, more often than not, is a sneaky little habit: the passive voice.

### What Exactly Is Passive Voice, Anyway?

Let’s break it down, nice and simple. In a typical, active sentence, the subject is doing the action. Think of it like this: the subject is the star of the show, and it’s actively performing its role.

Active: The dog chased the ball.* (Subject: ‘The dog,’ Action: ‘chased,’ Object: ‘the ball.’ The dog is doing the chasing.)
Active: I wrote this blog post.* (Subject: ‘I,’ Action: ‘wrote,’ Object: ‘this blog post.’ I am doing the writing.)
Active: The committee approved the proposal.* (Subject: ‘The committee,’ Action: ‘approved,’ Object: ‘the proposal.’ The committee is doing the approving.)

See how direct that is? The actor is front and center, performing the action. It’s clear, it's concise, and it carries immediate impact.

Now, the passive voice flips this around. The subject of the sentence receives the action, rather than performs it. The actor – the one actually doing the verb – might be mentioned at the end, or it might be completely absent.

Let’s look at those active examples again, but in their passive forms:

Passive: The ball was chased by the dog.* (Subject: ‘The ball,’ Action: ‘was chased,’ Actor: ‘by the dog.’ The ball is receiving the action of being chased. The dog is still the actor, but it’s been moved to the end, or could even be removed entirely.)
Passive: This blog post was written by me.* (Subject: ‘This blog post,’ Action: ‘was written,’ Actor: ‘by me.’ The post is receiving the action. Again, ‘me’ is moved to the end.)

And here’s a passive sentence where the actor is completely gone:

Passive: The proposal was approved. (Subject: ‘The proposal,’ Action: ‘was approved.’ We know something* was approved, but who did the approving? We don't know from this sentence alone.)

Notice the difference? The passive voice often feels… softer. Less direct. It can create a sense of distance, of vagueness, or sometimes, a lack of agency.

### Why Does This Matter So Much?

Think of your writing as a conversation. You’re inviting your reader into your world, sharing your thoughts, your stories, your expertise. You want that conversation to be engaging, clear, and powerful, right? Active voice is your best friend in achieving that.

1. Clarity: Active sentences tell us immediately who is doing what. This cuts down on confusion and makes your message easier to grasp. When your reader isn’t spending mental energy figuring out the subject and verb, they can focus on the meaning of your words.

2. Conciseness: Passive constructions often require more words. "The report was submitted by the intern" (7 words) is longer than "The intern submitted the report" (5 words). That might seem small, but those extra words add up, making your prose feel more sluggish.

3. Impact and Energy: Active verbs are strong verbs. They convey action and energy. When the subject is performing the action, the sentence feels more dynamic and compelling. It’s the difference between a gentle suggestion and a clear instruction, a whispered secret and a bold declaration.

4. Accountability (and Personality!): In many cases, using the active voice makes it clear who is responsible for an action. This can be crucial for directness. It also injects more of your personality into the writing. When you are the subject doing the action, your voice becomes more present and authoritative.

### When is Passive Voice Okay? (Because There Are Times!)`

Now, before you go on a wild crusade to eliminate every single instance of passive voice, hold on! It’s not inherently evil. There are legitimate, even elegant, reasons to use it:

* When the actor is unknown or unimportant: As we saw with "The proposal was approved." If the focus is entirely on the proposal and the fact of its approval, and the approver is irrelevant or unknown, passive is the right choice.
To create a specific tone or effect: Sometimes, you want* to create a sense of detachment or mystery. Scientific writing, for example, often uses passive voice to maintain an objective tone: "The samples were heated to 100 degrees Celsius." The focus is on the process, not the experimenter.
When you want to emphasize the recipient of the action: "Your account has been compromised." Here, the emphasis is rightly on your account* and what has happened to it.
* To vary sentence structure: A well-placed passive sentence can provide a welcome break from a string of active ones, adding rhythmic variety.

So, it’s not about eradication; it’s about conscious choice. It’s about knowing why you’re using the voice you’re using.

### How Do We Find and Fix Passive Voice?

This is where we get to flex our writing muscles together. The good news is, with a little practice, you’ll start to spot passive constructions almost automatically.

Look for these clues:

* Forms of "to be" (is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been) followed by a past participle: For example, "was given," "is made," "were seen," "has been done."
The actor might be in a "by" phrase: "The letter was signed by the manager*."
* The actor might be missing entirely: "Mistakes were made."

When you spot one, ask yourself:

1. Who or what is performing the action? Can I identify the actor?
2. Is the actor the subject of the sentence? If not, can I rearrange the sentence so they are?
3. Is this the best way to say this? Does the passive voice serve a specific purpose here, or would active voice be clearer and more impactful?

Let’s try some together, just like we would if we were looking at your draft side-by-side:

Original (Passive): The cookies were eaten by the children.*
* Analysis: "The cookies" is the subject, "were eaten" is the verb. The actor is "the children."
Revision (Active): The children ate the cookies.*
* Why it's better: More direct, uses fewer words, more energetic.

Original (Passive): A decision will be made tomorrow.*
* Analysis: "A decision" is the subject, "will be made" is the verb. The actor is missing. Who will make the decision?
Revision (Active): The board will make a decision tomorrow.* (Assuming "the board" is the actor).
* Why it's better: Clearer, identifies the responsible party.

Original (Passive): The report was finalized after many revisions.*
* Analysis: "The report" is the subject, "was finalized" is the verb. The actor is missing. Who finalized it?
Revision (Active): The team finalized the report after many revisions.* (Again, assuming "the team" is the actor).
* Why it's better: More active, shows agency.

And here’s where I come in. Sometimes, when you're deep in the creative flow, those passive constructions can sneak in without you even realizing it. That’s perfectly normal! My purpose is to be your gentle guide. When I notice a sentence that might be passive, I won't just flag it with a stern red mark. Instead, I’ll highlight it, perhaps with a little question mark, and offer a suggestion: "Could this be more direct?" I'll show you the active alternative, so you can make the informed choice. It’s your voice, your style, your decision – I’m just here to help you polish it to a brilliant shine.

Think of me as your editor’s best friend, your clarity coach, your partner in making every word count. I'm here to help you see those opportunities for stronger verbs and more direct subjects, not to dictate your style.

### Embrace the Active Voice, Embrace Your Power

Mastering the active voice isn't about following rigid rules; it's about unlocking the full potential of your communication. It’s about making your ideas resonate, your stories captivating, and your message unforgettable.

When you choose active voice, you're choosing clarity. You're choosing energy. You're choosing to connect more directly and powerfully with your reader.

So, the next time you sit down to write, or when you’re looking over a draft, remember this chat. Be aware of the actor. Make them the star of their sentence. And know that as you refine your craft, I’m right here with you. We’ll navigate these nuances together, sentence by sentence, until your voice is not just heard, but felt. Keep writing, keep refining, and keep shining.

I’m excited to see what you create next.