English Usage: Is Using Passive Voice in Dialect/Context So Wrong???

Question

0Here is a good question that I always, as i'm sure many of you do, encounter.  Is the use of passive voice for instance when writing a document in Microsoft Word or any other word processor always wrong when it underlines it or is the use of passive voice more acceptable in modern day?02br02br00Personally, I believe that the use of passive voice is occasionally okay to use, but why does it seem the majority of people say to avoid the use of this?02br02br00Being a Grad. student and student teaching, this is one topic that seems to come up in class a considerable amount of time and seems to have people running in both directions, some saying its okay and other not.02br02br00Hope to see some feedback!!!02br02br00Matt0-

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

0I am not clear on whether your Microsoft checker is actually calling your passive formations incorrect, but in any case--02br
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00Passive voice is perfectly fine and is in heavy use especially in the sciences and theoretical papers. On the other hand, teachers (including myself) are constantly cautioning against the overuse of the form because it is often leant upon by undergrads as sounding more 'academic' or 'impressive'-- which is not the case; it often sounds weak and flabby. Use the active voice to create strong, direct and effective argument, opinion and narrative.0-

Matt0915 · Answer

0I too, agree with your analysis of passive/active voice in that active voice does tend to create a strong argument, however, in cases where the use of passive voice, for instance, a research paper, are needed to explain what has happened, how should this be handled or worked around?02br
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00Thanks!0-

BarbaraPA · Answer

0Matt, just look at the those little green wavy lines as suggestions.  If you get the "passive" note, take a look - if you can rewrite so it sounds natural and correct in the active voice, do so. If you you can't, then "ignore."  There was a thread on this not too long ago that I voiced some pretty vehement opinions, but I don't know how to link to a prior thread. Perhaps one of the moderators can help.0-

Clive · Answer

0Hi,02br
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00I agree with much of the advice given already in this thread. However, I'm a little concerned that people may get the impression that the passive is a bad thing that must always be avoided. On the contrary, we use it every day. 02br
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01font00Did you hear the terrible news about Tom? He's dead. 01i00He was hit by a car outside school02i00.02font02br
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00Here, the passive keeps the focus on poor Tom, and reduces the importance of the fact that it was a car that killed him. The point of the statements is that Tom has been killed.02br
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00Best wishes, Clive0-

BarbaraPA · Answer

0Clive, can you post the link to the other thread on this? There was solid agreement, I think, on when the passive is preferred.0-

Clive · Answer

0Hi,02br
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00Sure. What's it called?02br
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00Clive0-

Goodman · Answer

0Hi,02br
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00On the ESL level, there seems to be an invisible line to separate when we use passive or active voice. In everyday dialog, we often use active voice, if I have to give it a percentage, say, 80%. We will have to say” I do this “you did that” a lot. This sounds direct and blunt. 00 00Example00: 00 00Mike spilled his coffee00 on Mary’s address when he accidentally bumped into her 00 00in the coffee room. 02br
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00 00Versus” 00The coffee was accidentally spilled00 on Mary’s address when Mike bumped into her in the coffee room”.02br
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001st one focuses on Mike, 201sup^00nd02sup00 one focuses on the coffee. 02br
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00Another reason to use passive voice is to avoid the “first person”.00 00Ex: You saw Jane making copies at the copier and it was going normally because you could hear it. The copier stopped and you saw Jane trying to pull the paper out of the rollers. 00 02br
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005 minutes later, Mary was cursing at the copier when you walked by and you said “ 00it’s been broken since00 this morning”. You convey the message that you knew it was broken without accusing Jane. 00 00Otherwise, you may have to active voice say “Jane / someone broke it”.02br
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00Passive voice is also essential in dramatization. Ex: The first-time digital camera users 00are usually amazed00 by the convenience and the picture quality of the camera when compared to the traditional 35 mm. 00 00Not only the price of the digital cameras 00has been reduced 00by the manufacturers, many features 00were also improved00 to compete for the consumer market. 00 00 02br
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00Hope this post helps 0-

CalifJim · Answer

0 01blockquote

00Is the use of passive voice for instance when writing a document in Microsoft Word or any other word processor always wrong when it underlines it12blockquote

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00You must learn to be more confident about your choice of words and learn to treat Microsoft with contempt! 05002br
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00 I certainly don't let Bill Gates tell 01b00me02b00how to write! 05102br
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00 CJ010id111id1

Matt0915 · Answer

0I agree that you need confidence in your word choice but you have to admit that there is a lot of controversy in whether or not the use of passive voice is correct or incorrect. Just as there is a lot of controversy with word use such as can/may, for example02br
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00when a child says to a teacher, "can i go to the bathroom?" - The teacher immediately corrects the child with, "may you go to the bathroom?"02br
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00I believe that this same controversy exists between the use of active/passive voice.02br
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00My question is, When does passive voice seem more applicable than active voice?02br
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00Why do some teachers continuously persuade students away from the use of passive voice and on what grounds?02br
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00Hope to hear some responses,02br
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00Thanks in advance!0-

Clive · Answer

0Hi Matt,02br
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01font00you have to admit that there is a lot of controversy in whether or not the use of passive voice is correct or incorrect. 02font00Personally, I'm not aware of such a controversy.02br
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01font00My question is, When does passive voice seem more applicable than active voice?02font00 This certainly is an area that can confuse learners. However, earlier comments and suggestions have been made in this thread about when each voice might be used. In the light of these earlier comments, perhaps you could write more specific questions for us that show where you are still unclear. Then we can help you more effectively.02br
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01font00Why do some teachers continuously persuade students away from the use of passive voice and on what grounds? 02font00I wasn't aware that some teachers do that. Is it possible that they are not native speakers? Or perhaps you are misinterpreting to some extent what they are saying about when passive should or should not be used?02br
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00Best wishes, Clive0-

English Usage: Is Using Passive Voice in Dialect/Context So Wrong???

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