Why Should The Active Voice Be Used In Business Writing?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Writing in an active voice: Uses fewer words , making the writing more concise and efficient; Creates a faster-moving narrative, which makes for easier writing and more engaging reading; Cleans up the sentence and helps prevent grammatical mistakes.

What is the purpose of using the active voice and active verbs in business writing?

The use of active verbs and an active voice in business writing will allow you to create communication that is clear, direct and easy to understand . Passive voice should be avoided as it can cause confusion and misunderstanding in your messages.

When should business writers use active voice?

It gives your product or service a sense of immediacy , and usually does so with fewer words. It’s typically the best option for business copywriting, whether you’re creating headings, subheadings, or body content. Option #2 flows a bit better and sounds more natural because it’s written in active voice.

How do you use active voice in business writing?

  1. Find the subject of the sentence; the subject should be the one performing the action, not receiving the action.
  2. Passive: He was questioned by me. ...
  3. Check each sentence for passive voice; revise the sentence construction to make use of the active voice.

Is active voice preferred in business writing?

Business writers should prefer active voice for most documents . Active voice is more direct and concise than passive voice. Passive voice is often awkward and evasive.

What does active voice mean in business?

What is Active Voice? Active voice is when the subject of a sentence performs the verb’s action. In other words, it tells what a person or thing does .

What is the impact of using the active voice in business messages?

In most cases, using active voice will result in shorter, sharper sentences that are easier for the reader to follow . This makes your writing clearer and aids the reader in visualizing what’s happening, especially when you use vivid action verbs.

Which voice is preferred in written communication in a business scenario?

In writing, always consider whether you should use the passive or active voice . It will depend on what you, the writer, want to convey: if you want to draw attention to the doer, use the passive voice; if your intent is to put the focus on the action, then you should go for the active voice.

How can you identify active and passive voice?

  1. If a sentence is in active voice, the subject performs the action. The dog bit the intruder. ...
  2. If a sentence is in passive voice, the subject receives the action. The intruder was bitten by the dog. ...
  3. In passive voice, the verb phrase includes a form of to be plus a past participle.

How do you write active voice examples?

Active voice examples

The dog chased the squirrel . All three sentences have a basic active voice construction: subject, verb, and object. The subject monkey performs the action described by adore. The subject the cashier performs the action described by counted.

What is active voice Give 5 examples?

Active Voice Passive Voice Sue changed the flat tire. The flat tire was changed by Sue.

What is active and passive voice in writing?

Active vs. passive voice

In a sentence written in the active voice, the subject of sentence performs the action . In a sentence written in the passive voice the subject receives the action.

Which sentence is written in the active voice?

In the simplest terms, an active voice sentence is written in the form of “A does B.” (For example, “Carmen sings the song.”) A passive voice sentence is written in the form of “B is done by A.” (For example, “The song is sung by Carmen.”) Both constructions are grammatically sound and correct.

Is passive voice grammatically incorrect?

Before we jump into those questions, let’s clear up something right away: the passive voice is not grammatically incorrect , and you are not “wrong” if you use it. ... The “voice” of a verb is the quality that indicates whether the subject of the sentence is doing the acting or receiving the action.

What’s wrong with passive voice in writing?

Well, what’s wrong with passive voice is that it hides the identity of the person doing the action . It also makes sentences longer than they need to be. ... You see, sometimes it’s okay—even desirable—to use the passive voice. But in general, active voice makes for better writing in English.

When should you use passive voice in writing?

  1. The actor is unknown: ...
  2. The actor is irrelevant: ...
  3. You want to be vague about who is responsible: ...
  4. You are talking about a general truth: ...
  5. You want to emphasize the person or thing acted on. ...
  6. You are writing in a scientific genre that traditionally relies on passive voice.
Emily Lee
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Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.