Passive Voice

Definition

Passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of the sentence is acted upon by the verb, rather than performing the action. This construction often emphasizes the action itself or the recipient of the action, which can shift focus away from who or what is performing it. It's commonly used in journalism to maintain objectivity or when the doer is unknown or less important.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. In passive voice constructions, the verb often includes a form of 'to be' plus the past participle of the main verb.
2. While passive voice can be useful for emphasizing results or actions, overusing it can lead to vague or unclear writing.
3. Journalists may use passive voice to emphasize events over individuals, which can help maintain neutrality in reporting.
4. Changing from passive to active voice typically makes sentences stronger and more engaging, as it clarifies who is responsible for the action.
5. In many writing styles, particularly in newswriting, using active voice is generally preferred for its directness and clarity.

Review Questions

• How does the use of passive voice affect the clarity and impact of journalistic writing?
  • Using passive voice can impact clarity by making it less clear who is responsible for an action. While it can be useful for emphasizing actions or outcomes in reporting, overuse may confuse readers. Therefore, finding a balance between passive and active voice can enhance both clarity and impact in journalistic writing.
• Evaluate a sentence in passive voice and rewrite it in active voice to illustrate the differences in emphasis.
  • Consider the sentence 'The ball was thrown by John.' In passive voice, the focus is on 'the ball' rather than 'John.' Rewriting it in active voice gives us 'John threw the ball,' which places emphasis on John as the actor. This shift not only clarifies who performed the action but also strengthens the overall message.
• Analyze how using passive voice might affect a reader's perception of responsibility in news stories.
  • Using passive voice can significantly alter a reader's perception of responsibility in news stories by obscuring who is accountable for an action. For example, saying 'Mistakes were made' removes the subject and makes it difficult to identify who is at fault. This technique can be strategic in reporting sensitive issues, as it may prevent assigning blame directly while still conveying the event's occurrence. However, it risks undermining accountability and could lead to skepticism among readers if they feel that important details are being hidden.

Related terms

Active Voice:

A grammatical structure where the subject of the sentence performs the action expressed by the verb, typically making sentences clearer and more direct.

Subject: The part of a sentence that indicates who or what is performing the action of the verb.

Verb: A word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being, essential for constructing meaningful sentences.