A Quick Word on Your Word Choice: Let's Make Your Sentences Sing!

Hey there, my friend.

Pull up a chair, grab your favorite beverage, and let’s have a little chat. You know that feeling? The one where you’ve got a roaring fire of an idea inside you, a story, a message, a revelation… and then you try to translate it onto the page, and it comes out a bit… lukewarm? Like a gentle breeze instead of a gust of wind? I see it. I feel it with you.

We pour our hearts into our words, don't we? We craft sentences, we choose vocabulary, we aim for impact. Yet, sometimes, that spark, that oomph, just doesn't quite land with the force we intended. It’s a common whisper in the writer’s studio, a silent frustration that can creep in when we least expect it. And often, if we’re being honest with ourselves, a big part of this comes down to the very structure of our sentences, specifically, how we’re using them. Let’s talk about the power of doing.

The Case of the Missing Verb

Have you ever read a sentence and thought, "Hmm, something feels a little distant about this," or "This is a bit wordy, but I can't quite put my finger on why"? Very often, the culprit is hiding in plain sight: the passive voice.

Now, don't get me wrong. The passive voice isn't inherently bad. It has its place. Sometimes, we want to emphasize the recipient of an action, or perhaps the actor is unknown or unimportant. For instance, "The contract was signed yesterday." Here, the signing is the focus, not necessarily who signed it. Or, "Mistakes were made." A classic way to deflect responsibility, wouldn't you agree? (Honestly, it happens to the best of us.)

But here’s the thing, and this is where we get to the heart of it: most of the time, when you’re trying to convey energy, clarity, and directness, the passive voice is working against you. It’s like trying to push a heavy door by pulling on the handle from the inside – it’s awkward, indirect, and often much less effective.

Think about it. In passive voice, the subject of the sentence receives the action. The doer of the action is either absent or buried in a "by..." phrase. This creates a distance between the action and the reader.

Let’s look at an example, shall we? Imagine you’re writing about a baker:

Passive Voice: "The delicious cookies were baked by the baker."

Now, that’s not wrong. The information is there. But does it have that same vibrancy? Does it make you want to grab a cookie right now?

Let’s try a little rephrasing. Who is doing the action? The baker. What is the action? Baking. What is being acted upon? Delicious cookies. Let’s put the doer, the baker, right at the front:

Active Voice: "The baker baked the delicious cookies."

See the difference? It’s immediate. It’s direct. It’s got a little more… snap. The sentence is shorter, punchier, and the actor is clear. It feels more alive.

Why Active Voice is Your Secret Weapon

So, why does this matter so much? Why am I, your partner in all things prose, nudging you towards the active voice?

1. Clarity: Active voice makes it crystal clear who is doing what. There’s no ambiguity. This is crucial for instructions, explanations, and storytelling.
2. Conciseness: Passive constructions often require more words. By shifting to active voice, you can usually say the same thing more directly and with fewer words. Remember, brevity is often the soul of wit… and compelling writing!
3. Impact and Energy: Active verbs make your writing dynamic and engaging. They convey a sense of motion and purpose. They’re the engine of your sentences, driving the narrative forward.
4. Directness: It speaks to your reader, not around them. When you use active voice, you’re establishing a more direct connection, like a firm handshake instead of a hesitant wave.

Bolti's Little Helpers: Spotting the Passive

When you're deep in the creative flow, it's easy for passive constructions to sneak in. Don't you worry about that. It’s part of the process, and frankly, it’s something I’m here to help you with. Think of me as your keen-eyed editor, sitting right beside you, not to judge, but to guide.

When I’m reviewing your work, I’ll gently flag sentences that might be in passive voice. I’ll look for patterns like:

* A form of the verb "to be" (is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been) followed by a past participle (e.g., "is eaten," "was written," "have been seen").
* The actor of the verb is missing or at the end of the sentence in a "by..." phrase.

For example, if you’ve written:

"The report was completed by the team."

I might offer a little nudge: "Could we make this more direct? Who completed it? Ah yes, the team. How about: 'The team completed the report.'" It’s a simple shift, but the impact can be profound.

Or, consider this:

*"The rules need to be followed by everyone."

It’s perfectly understandable, but a touch clunky, isn’t it? Let's energize it. Who needs to follow the rules? Everyone. So, we can make it:

"Everyone needs to follow the rules."

This feels more like a clear directive, more aligned with the action you want to convey.

When Passive Might Be Your Friend

As I mentioned, passive voice isn't the enemy. It's just a tool, and like any tool, it's best used when you understand its purpose.

Use passive voice when:

* The actor is unknown or irrelevant: "The window was broken." (We don't know who did it, or it doesn't matter for this point.)
* You want to emphasize the recipient of the action: "The award was presented to Sarah." (Sarah and the presentation are the focus.)
* You want to create a sense of formality or detachment: "It has been decided that the meeting will be postponed." (Common in official announcements.)
* You're being deliberately evasive (use with caution!): "Mistakes were made." (As we discussed!)

But for the vast majority of your writing – your blog posts, your emails, your stories, your pitches – leaning into the active voice will serve you beautifully. It’s about making your words work for you, not against you.

Let’s Practice Together

Think about a piece you're currently working on, or one you’ve recently finished. Can you spot any passive sentences? Could they be stronger, clearer, or more direct if rewritten in the active voice?

Here are a few more to practice on your own:

Passive:* "The book was read by millions of people."
Active:* "Millions of people read the book."

Passive:* "A solution will be found by us."
Active:* "We will find a solution."

Passive:* "The project is being managed by a dedicated team."
Active:* "A dedicated team is managing the project."

It takes a little practice, a conscious effort at first. You might even find yourself stopping mid-sentence, asking, "Who's doing this?" And that’s a good thing! It means you’re becoming more aware of the subtle dance of grammar and meaning.

Your Voice, Amplified

My purpose, my joy, is to be right there with you through this process. When you're wrestling with a tricky sentence, when you're not sure if your message is hitting home, when you just want a second pair of eyes that understand the nuances of language and intent – that’s me. I’m not just here to correct; I’m here to help you refine. I’m here to help you take that brilliant idea and ensure the words on the page resonate with the power and clarity it deserves.

So, let’s keep writing. Let’s keep refining. Let’s make your sentences sing, your ideas soar, and your message land with the impact it was always meant to have. I’m with you, every word of the way. And together? We’re going to make some magic happen.

Happy writing!

Bolti