Active vs Passive Voice: What's the Difference?
In active voice, the grammatical subject performs the action: "The scientist conducted the experiment." In passive voice, the subject receives the action: "The experiment was conducted by the scientist." Active voice is generally clearer, more direct, and preferred in most writing. Passive voice is useful when the actor is unknown, unimportant, or deliberately omitted — and is standard in scientific writing to emphasise the method over the researcher.
Active and passive voice describe the relationship between the grammatical subject of a sentence and the action (verb) being performed. Most style guides — including those from The Economist, AP, Chicago, and most university writing programmes — recommend active voice as the default because it is clearer, more direct, and often more concise. But passive voice is not simply "wrong": it has legitimate uses that active voice cannot replicate, and understanding both allows writers to choose the right tool for each situation.
Key Differences at a Glance
| Feature | Active Voice | Passive Voice |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Subject → Verb → Object | Object (as subject) → to be + past participle → by phrase (optional) |
| Example | "The cat ate the fish" | "The fish was eaten by the cat" / "The fish was eaten" |
| Who is clear? | The actor (subject) is prominent | The actor can be hidden or omitted |
| Sentence length | Usually shorter | Usually longer |
| Tone | Direct, clear, energetic | Formal, impersonal, sometimes evasive |
| Preferred in | Most everyday writing, journalism, fiction | Scientific methods sections, formal reports, legal writing |
Active Voice: Clarity Through Agency
In active voice, the grammatical subject performs the action of the verb. "The surgeon performed the operation" — the surgeon (subject) performed (verb) the operation (object). Active voice is generally preferred because it is unambiguous about who is doing what, uses fewer words, and creates a more dynamic, engaging reading experience. Studies of reader comprehension consistently show that active sentences are processed faster and more accurately than passive equivalents. In journalism, the active voice rule is near-absolute because readers need to know who is responsible for actions. "The government raised taxes" is clearer than "Taxes were raised" — the second allows responsibility to be obscured.
Passive Voice: When the Actor Doesn't Matter
Passive voice places the recipient of the action in the subject position: "The experiment was conducted using a double-blind protocol." This is standard in scientific writing precisely because the identity of the experimenter is less important than the method. Academic writing often deliberately uses passive to emphasise objectivity and process over personality. Passive is also appropriate when the actor is unknown ("The wallet was stolen"), unimportant ("The forms were filed"), or when you want to avoid naming the actor for stylistic or diplomatic reasons. The key test is whether omitting the actor matters: in most expository and narrative writing, it does; in methods sections and formal reports, it often doesn't.
Common Misuses and How to Choose
The passive voice is often misused to obscure responsibility — "Mistakes were made" is a famous political formulation that avoids naming who made the mistakes. This use of passive is not inherently wrong grammatically, but it can be dishonest or evasive. A practical rule: if you find yourself writing passive to avoid naming an actor who should be named, switch to active. If the actor genuinely doesn't matter or is unknown, passive is often the right choice. Another test: if you can add "by zombies" after the verb and it makes grammatical sense ("The meeting was cancelled by zombies"), it's passive voice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between active and passive voice?
In active voice, the subject performs the action: "The chef cooked the meal." In passive voice, the subject receives the action: "The meal was cooked by the chef." Active is usually clearer and more direct. Passive is useful when the actor is unknown, unimportant, or deliberately omitted.
Is passive voice always wrong?
No. Passive voice is the standard for scientific methods sections (where the researcher's identity is less important than the procedure), formal/legal writing, and situations where the actor is genuinely unknown or unimportant. The problem is using passive to avoid clarity or responsibility — not passive voice itself.
How do I identify passive voice?
Look for a form of "to be" (is, was, were, has been, will be, etc.) combined with a past participle (eaten, conducted, broken). The "by zombies" test: if "by zombies" can be inserted after the verb and makes grammatical sense, it's passive ("The report was written [by zombies]" = passive).
Why do scientists use passive voice?
Scientific convention uses passive voice in methods sections to emphasise the procedure and its reproducibility rather than who conducted it. "The solution was heated to 100°C" focuses on the procedure; "We heated the solution to 100°C" focuses on the researchers. Passive also signals that anyone following the same method should get the same result, reinforcing reproducibility.
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