Confused about passive voice

Question

Hello all,I am a paramedic and when I write my documentation, Grammarly frequently points out that I am using the passive voice. I have Googled and Binged quite a bit and yet I am still confused. I think I understand the basics of passive versus active voice however I'm not sure that passive is not the better option for medical documentation. A few examples follow.1. She does not want to see him in the office until the pandemic restrictions have been lifted.2. Upon auscultation, he is noted to be making noise in his throat.3. His urticaria and erythema are noticeably diminished.4. He has not been seen by a physician, nor has he been diagnosed with the flu.As with most industries, there are certain wording and phrases in medical documentation that are proving difficult to write differently. I'm not really looking for someone to rewrite the example sentences for me as much as I'm trying to get an understanding of why these examples are in the passive voice and what would make them active voice.Your help is greatly appreciated,Chris

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Grammarly is an online computer program. It cannot do what you hope it will. I am afraid you will have to learn the ins and outs of writing with your own brain. An excellent little primer is The Elements of Style.

There is nothing wrong with writing in the passive voice. They warn you against it because beginners tend to be timid, and they use it too much. In reports like yours, the passive is usual and unavoidable, which becomes obvious when you try to change your lines into active:

chrishowell1. She does not want to see him in the office until the pandemic restrictions have been lifted.

1. She does not want to see him in the office until the authorities have lifted the pandemic restrictions.

chrishowell2. Upon auscultation, he is noted to be making noise in his throat.

2. Upon auscultation, I noted that he was making noise in his throat.

chrishowell3. His urticaria and erythema are noticeably diminished.

3. A diminishing of his urticaria and erythema is noticeable.

chrishowell4. He has not been seen by a physician, nor has he been diagnosed with the flu.

4. A physician has not seen him, nor has a physician diagnosed him with the flu.

That said, in most other types of writing it is indeed best to keep an eye on the passivometer, so to speak, and stay out of that rut if you find yourself going there.

CalifJim · Answer

chrishowellGrammarly frequently points out that I am using the passive voice.

They are probably assuming your writing is for an academic essay or for a creative writing class. Not all styles of writing should be characterized by an obsession to avoid the passive voice.

chrishowellI'm not sure that passive is not the better option for medical documentation.

Agree.

chrishowellan understanding of why these examples are in the passive voice

Because you wrote them that way? I'm not sure what you mean here.

By the way, the third one has a participial adjective (diminished). That's not enough to call it a passive, though the grammar applications usually can't figure that out.

Only the second one is a bit too awkward. You can do that in the active voice easily as Auscultation reveals noise in his throat. But if you prefer the passive, Upon auscultation, noise is heard in his throat.

CJ

Confused about passive voice

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