Active & Passive Voice in Writing

One common question students of English have is when to use passive voice in their writing. Students are often taught that active voice is more vivid, or a stronger way of writing, and are frequently discouraged from attempting to use passive voice. However, passive voice can be used effectively. Just don't use it too much ;)

Have a look at these two sentences.

1. The forest frightened Maria.
2. Maria was frightened by the forest.

The first sentence is written in active voice, while the second is written in passive voice. Which is better? It all depends on what follows.

If the text that follows is a description of the forest, the first sentence might be better.

• The forest frightened Maria. It was dark and cold, and the foreign sounds seemed to come from nowhere. The forest was the kind of place where a person feared that having entered, he or she might never make it back out.

If the text that follows is more about Maria and why she is frightened, the second sentence might be better.

• Maria was frightened by the forest. Having grown up in the city, she was unaccustomed to its darkness, coldness, and foreign sounds. She feared that having entered the forest, she might never make it back out.

Both active and passive voice can be used in vivid descriptive writing. Which you choose generally depends on the focus of the writing that follows.

Feel free to comment or ask questions. If you would like to try an example of your own, I would be glad to read it and let you know what I think.

Thanks for reading,
​Michael Highers