Current Events > What is so bad about the passive voice ?

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I was told that I was using the passive voice to much in something I was writing. Just wondering does anyone know what they is a bad?

Well, to give a common example in journalism, the passive voice can often obscure who or what is committing an action.

"Man killed by bullet in clash with police" is an example of passive voice, and reads very differently from "Police kill man."

If you use it too much, it reads like things are happening but nobody is actually doing anything. "The door was opened" versus "Bob opened the door." But the passive voice has its purpose. Sometimes you want to obscure a motive or create a more generalized impression. "Never use the passive voice" is one of those "writing rules" that some people have latched onto and treat like a commandment from God, which it is not.

I get into far too many quibbles about this since I work as an editor. Sometimes proofreaders will go through a manuscript and mercilessly remove every instance of the passive voice without considering why it's being used.

@TheOnionKnight posted...

If you use it too much, it reads like things are happening but nobody is actually doing anything. "The door was opened" versus "Bob opened the door." But the passive voice has its purpose. Sometimes you want to obscure a motive or create a more generalized impression. "Never use the passive voice" is one of those "writing rules" that some people have latched onto and treat like a commandment from God, which it is not.

I get into far too many quibbles about this since I work as an editor. Sometimes proofreaders will go through a manuscript and mercilessly remove every instance of the passive voice without considering why it's being used.

You do any freelance editing, or do you work for a company? I ask, cause I'm searching someone to edit my next novel.

Since we are speaking about editing how much does it cost, in general. I am thinking about getting my dissertation edited. I have freaking learning disability and this shit is taking forever.

cjsdowg posted...

Since we are speaking about editing how much does it cost, in general. I am thinking about getting my dissertation edited. I have freaking learning disability and this shit is taking forever.

you're looking at 1-5 cents per word

also yeah as soon as teachers started correcting me on active vs passive I started always using active. just like how in high school they tell you not to use 'i' in a paper, they just say don't and don't say when it's appropriate. I guess that is what a writing major is for.

There's nothing intrinsically wrong with it, but it can be overdone or misused. It's one of those things poor writers like to harp on because the average person doesn't know what it is, so they sound smart in comparison.

Eat_More_Beef posted...

@You do any freelance editing, or do you work for a company? I ask, cause I'm searching someone to edit my next novel.

I used to work for a couple of different literary agencies, but now I do it freelance as a side gig. My "day job" these days is writing/design for video games. Well, and occasional editing for games too, but that's a side side gig.

AloneIBreak posted...

There's nothing intrinsically wrong with it, but it can be overdone or misused. It's one of those things poor writers like to harp on because the average person doesn't know what it is, so they sound smart in comparison.

Id say that the average person does know what it is, given that its taught in primary school.