Understanding Active V.S. Passive Voice Made Easy & Why It Matters
- Bair Klos
- Jul 7, 2024
- 9 min read
Have you ever had someone read your writing and tell you it was ‘passive’? Did you stare at them afterwards in confusion, scratching your head, thinking, “What the heck does that even mean? My writing is ‘passive’?”
Writers often hear that active voice is stronger, and for some writers, passive voice can feel like the bane of their existence—a mysterious, dreaded mistake that must be eliminated at all costs. But I’m here to tell you: passive voice isn’t always bad. The key is knowing when to use it, when to avoid it, and how to make that choice intentionally.
In this post, I’ll help you identify passive vs. active voice so you can decide when passive voice might actually be the better tool for your writing. Like with many writing “rules,” the key isn’t to blindly follow them—it’s understanding them first, so you can break them intentionally.
Personally, I’m an avid advocate of breaking conventional rules if it enhances my writing, story, character, mood, or theme. But like Show vs. Tell, passive voice has been unfairly villainized. Some writers treat it as if it should never be used, which I think is an unfortunate overcorrection.
Active voice is like putting a character in the spotlight—clear, direct, and front-and-center. Passive voice moves them backstage, shifting focus to the scene, the mood, or the action itself. Great storytelling knows when to shine the light and when to let the background speak.
Let’s break down the difference between active and passive voice, why it matters, and how to use each strategically in your writing.
Understanding Active V.S. Passive Voice Made Easy & Why It Matters
What is Active Voice?
Active voice makes writing clear, direct, and engaging. In an active sentence, the subject performs the action, keeping the focus on who is driving the story forward. This makes prose feel stronger, more immediate, and easier to read. For example, instead of saying, ‘The treasure was stolen by the thief,’ active voice sharpens the sentence to, ‘The thief stole the treasure.’ The difference? One feels distant, while the other keeps the action front and center. Active voice is especially powerful in storytelling, where characters need agency and momentum to make scenes feel alive. Active voice keeps things clear, direct, and engaging.
Example:
The knight slayed the dragon. (Active – The knight is doing the action.)
Why It’s Preferred:
It makes writing stronger and more immersive.
Readers immediately understand who is acting.
It creates a sense of urgency and impact—perfect for fiction and persuasive writing.
Active voice is the foundation of strong, immersive storytelling because it keeps the prose sharp, direct, and engaging. It helps readers feel like they’re experiencing events in real time, rather than being told about them from a distance. While passive voice has its place, active voice is generally the best choice for keeping momentum, agency, and tension alive in your writing.
One of the most important times to use active voice is during action and fast-paced scenes. Whether it’s a battle, a chase, or a moment of life-or-death urgency, active voice keeps the reader fully engaged. Compare these two sentences: The assassin drew his blade and lunged vs. The blade was drawn by the assassin before he lunged. The first feels immediate and intense, while the second is clunky and distances the reader from the action. In high-energy moments, active voice creates urgency and impact.
Active voice is also crucial for character agency and decision-making. It keeps the protagonist driving the story forward rather than feeling like things are just happening to them. A sentence like She grabbed the letter and tore it open puts the focus on her actions and emotions, while The letter was grabbed and torn open by her makes her feel more like an afterthought. If you want readers to feel invested in your character’s choices, active voice is essential.
Dialogue and internal monologue also benefit from active voice, making them feel more natural and emotionally expressive. People rarely speak in passive voice unless they’re intentionally being vague or distancing themselves from responsibility (“Mistakes were made” instead of “I made a mistake.”). Using active voice in character dialogue helps conversations feel authentic and engaging, while passive voice can make them sound stiff and unnatural.
Another moment to prioritize active voice is when you’re building tension and momentum. If a character is creeping through a dark house, readers should feel their heartbeat quicken with every step. Compare The door burst open, and the stranger stepped inside to The door was burst open, and inside stepped a stranger. The first sentence is tight and suspenseful, while the second feels unnecessarily formal and sluggish. In thrillers, mysteries, or any high-stakes scene, active voice keeps readers on edge and immersed in the unfolding drama.
Finally, active voice strengthens worldbuilding and immersion by making descriptions vivid and dynamic. When writing setting and atmosphere, sentences like Waves crashed against the jagged rocks, sending white foam spraying into the air allow readers to see and feel the scene. In contrast, The jagged rocks were crashed against by waves, and white foam was sent spraying into the air feels distant and overcomplicated. A strong narrative voice benefits from clear, engaging descriptions, and active voice helps bring a scene to life.
Ultimately, active voice is the best tool for making writing punchy, immersive, and engaging. It places characters at the center of the action, keeps pacing tight, and ensures descriptions remain compelling rather than cluttered. While passive voice has its place in fiction, active voice is what keeps a story feeling alive, urgent, and emotionally impactful.
What is Passive Voice? And How-To Use Passive Voice To Shift Focus (& How to Use It Intentionally)
Passive voice shifts the focus away from the subject and onto the action itself. Instead of the doer taking center stage, the event or outcome becomes the focus. This can create a sense of mystery, formality, or emotional distance. For example, ‘The treasure was stolen by the thief’ places emphasis on the stolen treasure rather than the thief. In some cases, passive voice is useful—such as in mystery writing (‘The jewels were stolen last night’ keeps the culprit unknown) or when the doer is irrelevant (‘A new law was passed’). While passive voice can weaken writing when overused, it’s a valuable tool when used intentionally.
In passive voice, the subject receives the action. This can make writing feel wordy, unclear, or detached.
Example:
The dragon was slayed by the knight. (Passive – The action is emphasized, not the doer.)
Why It’s Usually Weaker:
It adds unnecessary words and can feel clunky.
It removes agency from the subject—who is actually doing the action?
While active voice is often the stronger choice for storytelling, passive voice has its place when used intentionally. It shifts the focus away from the subject and onto the action or outcome, making it useful for moments of mystery, detachment, or dramatic emphasis. Instead of pushing the story forward with force, passive voice allows for subtlety, atmosphere, and intrigue.
One of the most effective times to use passive voice is when you want to create mystery or suspense. If a crime has been committed but you don’t want to immediately reveal who is responsible, passive voice can help keep the perpetrator hidden. Compare Someone stole the ancient relic last night to The ancient relic was stolen last night. The first sentence is direct and clear, but the second keeps the focus on the event itself, allowing for tension to build. This technique is particularly useful in mystery, thriller, or horror writing, where the unknown is part of the appeal.
Passive voice is also commonly used when a writer wants to depersonalize or soften responsibility. This technique is often seen in formal writing (“A mistake was made” instead of “I made a mistake”) but can also be a powerful tool in fiction. A character might use passive voice in dialogue to distance themselves from blame or sound deliberately vague. If a ruler announces, “Laws were broken, and consequences will follow,” they avoid naming specific people, making the statement sound formal and ominous.
Another situation where passive voice works well is when the result of an action is more important than who performed it. This is especially true when describing widespread events or large-scale consequences. For example, “Entire villages were destroyed in the war” emphasizes the devastation, whereas “The enemy forces destroyed entire villages” puts the focus on the attackers. If the story is more about the aftermath than the aggressors, passive voice shifts attention to what happened rather than who caused it.
Additionally, passive voice can enhance the tone of detachment or emotional distance. In moments of grief, trauma, or numbness, a character’s thoughts or narration might slip into passive voice to reflect their emotional withdrawal. For example, “The news was delivered, but I barely heard it” conveys shock and detachment, while “She delivered the news, but I barely heard her” is more immediate and personal. This technique can be especially effective in tragic or introspective moments where a character feels like an observer rather than an active participant.
Lastly, passive voice can be used stylistically to mimic ancient texts, folklore, or prophetic speech. If a character is recounting a legend, they might say, “It is said that a great storm will come,” rather than “People say a great storm will come.” The passive construction makes the statement feel timeless, mythical, or fated, adding to the weight of the words. This is often seen in fantasy, historical fiction, and religious or mythological storytelling.
While passive voice can weaken writing if overused, it is a valuable tool when used with intention. It can create mystery, formality, emotional detachment, and historical weight, making it a stylistic choice rather than a grammatical mistake. The key is knowing when to let passive voice enhance your storytelling rather than dull it.
How to Spot Passive Voice Using The "Zombie Test"🧟♂️
If you're struggling to tell if a sentence is passive, worry not! Try using the “Zombie Test”!
The “Zombie Test” for identifying passive voice was popularized by Dr. Rebecca Johnson, a professor at the Marine Corps University. She introduced this method as a quick and engaging way to help students recognize passive constructions in their writing. By adding the phrase “by zombies” after the verb, if the sentence still makes sense, it’s likely in the passive voice. For example, “The book was read (by zombies)” indicates a passive structure. This technique has since been widely adopted as a fun and effective tool for teaching grammar concepts.
How It Works:
Find the verb in your sentence.
Add “by zombies” after the verb.
If the sentence still makes sense, it’s passive. If it doesn’t, it’s active.
Examples:
The treasure was stolen (by zombies). → Makes sense! = Passive voice ❌
Pirates stole the treasure (by zombies). → Doesn’t make sense! = Active voice ✅
Why It Works:
Passive voice often hides the subject or makes the action feel distant. The “by zombies” trick exposes weak phrasing, missing or unclear doers of action, and helps you rewrite stronger, clearer sentences!
Bonus Tips:
Another way to check is by looking for forms of “to be” (was, were, is, been, are) + a past participle (eaten, written, discovered). Look for “by” phrases (The book was written by the author) and if the doer of the action is missing or unclear, it’s likely passive.
Exercises: Converting Passive Voice to Active Voice
Rewrite the following sentences in active voice by identifying the subject and making the sentence more direct.
Simple Sentences
The book was placed on the table.
A mistake was made in the report.
The keys were found under the couch.
The letter was written in a hurry.
A new law was passed last week.
Longer Sentences
The cake was baked by the chef for the celebration.
The castle was attacked by an unknown enemy at dawn.
The decision was announced by the jury after hours of deliberation.
A new discovery was made by scientists in the deep ocean.
The lost dog was finally found by a kind stranger.
Challenging Sentences
The entire city was evacuated due to the approaching hurricane.
A rare artifact was unearthed by archaeologists in the desert.
The missing documents were recovered by the detective after an extensive search.
The championship trophy was awarded to the winning team.
The rules were changed to improve fairness in the competition.
Bonus Challenge:
Try writing your own sentences in passive voice and then rewriting them in active voice!
Concluding Thoughts
Active voice makes writing stronger and clearer, but passive voice has its place when used intentionally. It’s not just a grammatical mistake—it’s a stylistic tool that can shift focus, build suspense, and control tone. The key is knowing when to use it for impact and when to avoid it for clarity.
When To Use Active vs. Passive Voice:
✔ Use active voice when: You want your writing to be clear, direct, and engaging.
✔ Use passive voice when: The doer of the action is unknown, irrelevant, or intentionally hidden.
Quick Rule of Thumb:
Active = Clarity & Impact.
Passive = Distance & Detachment.
“Passive voice obscures responsibility. Active voice reveals it.”
So my questions to you are: Do you ever find yourself using passive voice often? How do you catch it in your writing? Have you ever used passive voice intentionally in your writing? How did it change the focus of your scene?
Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your thoughts! 😊
Happy writing!
—Bair✍︎
Disclaimer: Please note that this blog post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a referral commission at no extra cost to you. This support helps keep my website up & running, and me writing! Thanks so much for your support!
Want to stay up to-date on get exclusive updates and insights on future projects, book launches, writer and reader resources, FREE literature, writing freebies, and a more?
Sign up for my Newsletter!
Find more helpful writing tips on the rest of my blog.
Struggling to get your word count in? Check out my writing podcast!
Need a new notebook? Check out my hand-bound books!
Support the blog on Ko-fi!
Check out My Writer & Reader Merch Store
Like this post?
Share the link on your social media or
pin the image below to your Pinterest board!
Comments