In Defense of the Passive Voice
Wednesday, September 20th, 2006
Passive voice: one of the most commonly vilified, frequently bemoaned, and terminally misunderstood constructions in English. Yes, it’s true—the active voice is more vigorous, more forceful, more natural, and simpler in many cases. Sentences like “The book was put down by Mary” or “The dog was walked by my brother yesterday” make sensitive listeners shudder. But passive voice has its place. Here are a few situations where I’m willing to fight for it: continue reading
