What the hell is the passive voice?

[Tommy_Carcetti]

I usually get complimented on my writing, except for my apparent habit to always write using the passive voice.

Okay, what exactly is the passive voice?

[ghostsofgiants]

1. Here...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_passive_voice

[Richardo]

2. "You have not been informed?"

"That's what I was told."

"The car was driven into a bridge abutment."

"The reports were delivered by courier. "

"Mistakes were made."




Like that. It's my writing style weakness as well.

[Eurobabe]

3. Passive voice is used when focusing on the person or thing affected by the action

The subject is relegated to the background.

Germany is playing soccer (Active)

Soccer is being played by Germany. (Passive)

[Aristus]

4. There's an example of the passive voice in the first sentence of your post field

"I usually get complimented on my writing". That's passive voice. Active voice would be "My teacher usually compliments me on my writing."

[undeterred]

5. Mistakes were made...

instead of "I started a war for no goddam reason".

[Critters2]

6. This is where that annoying Microsoft paper clip guy would be handy.

My use of the passive voice was his greatest complaint about my work. Apparently I write in the passive voice quite a bit. Or at least I did. Before Mr. Paper Clipman was killed by some kind soul.

Use of the passive voice in action:

Passive--"Mr. Paper Clip was killed by someone. Yay!!"

Active--"Someone killed Mr. Paper Clip. Yay!"

You learn it really fast after enough of that DAMN TAPPING!!!!!

[Left Is Write]

8. It looks like you're writing about a murder.

How can I help?




:P

[Critters2]

9. LOL!!

:spray:

[Left Is Write]

7. The passive voice is when something happens TO something or someone.

The active voice is when someone or something performs the actions.

Active: He hit the ball.
Passive: The ball was hit.

[trackfan]

10. The great repub excuse when bad things happen:

Mistakes were made.

Not: we made mistakes.

[WinkyDink]

11. It will not be revealed by me.