Active and passive voice

Question

i recently got critisized for the use of passive voice in an article on liposuction. My problem was, if i used active the term liposcution cropped up too often, and that is the type of writing i dislike.So id say something like. 'Liposuction can remove unwanted fat......(few sentences later)....Unwanted fat in the arms, feet, buttocks are all correctable."
So you see how i used it to hide the term 'liposuction'
I'd like to know why ppl consider passive voice an evil. or is the mixing of active and passive that is an issue?

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

i recently got critisized for the use of passive voice in an article on liposuction. My problem was, if i used active the term liposcution cropped up too often, and that is the type of writing i dislike.So id say something like. 'Liposuction can remove unwanted fat..(few sentences later)..Unwanted fat in the arms, feet, buttocks are all correctable."

So you see how i used it to hide the term 'liposuction'

I'd like to know why ppl consider passive voice an evil. or is the mixing of active and passive that is an issue?

There's nothing wrong with using passive for the reasons you mention, and there's nothing technically wrong with mixing voices. These are matters of style, and each case should be judged on its context.

Generally speaking, passive is often less direct and less forceful. It can be used to obscure meaning.

Which sentence do you think I should say to my boss?

I made an error.

or

An error has been made.

Best wishes, Clive

Active and passive voice

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions