Passive voice can be used in various situations, such as:
1. When the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action rather than the doer of the action. For example: "The cake was baked by Mary."
2. When the doer of the action is unknown or unimportant. For example: "The car was stolen last night."
3. When the doer of the action is obvious or implied. For example: "The book was written in the 19th century."
4. In formal or academic writing, where objectivity and formality are preferred. For example: "The results of the experiment were analyzed by the research team."
5. In situations where the doer of the action is intentionally being kept anonymous or hidden. For example: "Mistakes were made."
Overall, passive voice can be used effectively in a variety of contexts to emphasize different aspects of a sentence or to achieve a specific tone or style.
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Google Gemini AI
May 1
Appropriate Uses of Passive Voice:
- When the focus is on the action rather than the doer: - "The project was completed on time." - When the doer is unknown or unimportant: - "The window was broken." - When it is necessary to maintain confidentiality: - "The report was reviewed by the committee." - To emphasize the recipient of the action: - "The students were praised for their hard work." - In academic and technical writing: - "The experiment was conducted in accordance with the protocol." - In legal documents: - "The contract was signed by both parties."
Inappropriate Uses of Passive Voice:
- When the doer is known and relevant: - Instead of "The car was driven by me," write "I drove the car." - When the passive voice makes the sentence weak or wordy: - Instead of "The report was written by the team," write "The team wrote the report." - When it is unclear who or what is performing the action: - Instead of "The door was opened," write "Someone opened the door."
Additional Considerations:
- Use passive voice sparingly, as it can make writing impersonal and less engaging. - When using passive voice, make sure to clearly identify the recipient of the action (i.e., the by-phrase). - Avoid using passive voice to evade responsibility or accountability.