Active vs. Passive Voice Sentences - Difference Table
Active vs. Passive Voice Sentences - Which Is Better for Academic Writing
When Active Voice Sentences are Most Preferred in Academic Writing
When Passive Voice Sentences are Preferred in Academic Writing
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When it comes to academic writing, many students and researchers focus on grammar, style, tone, citations, and formatting. While taking care of these essential elements, they often overlook the most fundamental aspect of effective writing, which is sentence voice (active or passive).
The choice between active and passive voice sentences significantly influences how clearly information is delivered and how easily it can be interpreted by the readers. Both active and passive sentences have their own importance in writing.
However, people in academia often compare active vs. passive voice and debate which is better for academic writing. If you also want to know the answer, then keep reading this blog till the end.
In the active voice sentence structure, the subject performs the task or action. In more generalized terms, the person or thing performing the action comes first in an active voice sentence.
Here is an example for better understanding!
“Huma is playing football.”
The subject “Huma” is performing the action, which is “playing football.”
Similarly:
“The cat chases the ball.”
As a rule of thumb, remember the following structure for an active voice sentence:
Subject + Verb + Object
In a passive voice sentence, the subject receives the action instead of actually performing it.
In other words the focus of the sentence shifts from the action performer to the object that is affected by the action.
Note that, passive voice is grammatically correct, but the grammar rules change, and the subject and object shift their roles.
The original object of the active sentence becomes the new grammatical subject in the passive sentence. Whereas the original subject is either used with “By + agent (object)” or is completely omitted, if required.
“Football is being played by Huma.”
And
“The ball is chased by the cat.”
Below is the structure of a passive sentence:
Subject + form of to be + past participle (+ by + Agent)
This table highlights some of the key differences between active and passive voice sentences.
Aspect | Active Voice | Passive Voice |
Definition | The subject performs the action of the verb. | The subject receives the action of the verb. |
Focus | Focus is on the action (person/thing) doing the action. | Focus is on the object affected by the action. |
Sentence Structure | Subject + Verb + Object | Subject + form of “to be” + past participle (+ by + Agent) |
Example | Huma is playing football. | Football is being played by Huma. |
Clarity | Clear, direct, and easier to understand. | Less direct and sometimes harder to follow. |
Sentence Length | Usually shorter and more concise. | Often longer due to additional words. |
Tone of Writing | Engaging, direct, and dynamic. | More formal and impersonal. |
Best Used When | The writer wants to clearly show who is performing the action. | The writer wants to emphasize the action or when the doer is unknown. |
Active voice is generally preferred in much of modern academic writing, although passive voice remains common in many disciplines and research contexts.
This is because active voice sentences clearly identify who is performing the action. This allows readers to follow the given information without getting confused. That’s why many teachers, universities, or even style guides (i.e., APA and MLA) encourage students to write sentences in active voice whenever possible.
However, passive voice sentences are also used in academic writing, but in certain situations or scenarios. The most common scenario is when the focus of the writing is on the action, result, or process rather than the person performing it.
To create quality academic write-ups, you should have a good understanding of where to use active and passive sentences appropriately.
Below, we have discussed a few common scenarios in which active voice sentences are most preferred in academic writing.
If you want to present an argument, claim, or fact, then it would be great to write it in active voice. Doing so will make the argument sound clear, direct, and credible. Instead of hiding the subject, an active sentence clearly showcases who is making the claim.
Example:
Active voice: This research demonstrates that regular exercise helps improve both physical and mental health.
Passive voice: It has been demonstrated by research that regular exercise helps improve both physical and mental health.
Most essays and assignments benefit from the use of active voice sentences. This is because it not only improves the overall clarity but also helps build a logical and engaging flow between the ideas. The use of active voice sentences also reduces wordiness in writing, eliminating the chances of the reader’s confusion.
Example:
Active voice: The writer describes the relationship between social media and its impact on society.
Passive voice: The relationship between social media and its impact on society is described by the writer.
When writing research papers or journal articles, many universities recommend that academics use the active voice. This allows users to explain what they did during the study in a clear and concise manner.
Example:
Active voice: We collected data from 1,500 participants.
Passive voice: Data was collected from 1,500 participants by us.
We all know that academic writing deals with complex findings and difficult concepts. As a writer, it is your responsibility to explain them in the easiest terms for better understanding. Active voice helps achieve this by making sentences direct, engaging, and fluent to read.
Example:
Active voice: The study has identified multiple factors affecting students' academic performance.
Passive voice: Multiple factors affecting students' academic performance have been identified by the study.
There are a few specific situations where passive voice is used in academic settings.
In some academic contexts, the action or result is usually more important than the person or thing performing it. Therefore, in such cases, passive voice sentences should be used. These help keep the reader’s attention on the action or process rather than the doer.
Example:
Passive voice: The data was analyzed using specialized software.
Active voice: Researchers analyzed the data using specialized software.
While writing academic content, if the person or thing performing the action is either unknown or unnecessary to mention, then it's better to use a passive voice sentence structure. It will help keep the focus on the result instead of emphasizing the subject.
Example:
Passive voice: The ancient manuscript was discovered early in the 20th century.
Active voice: Someone discovered the ancient manuscript early in the 20th century.
When you want to discuss established factors, experiments, or observations in academia, consider writing in passive voice. Doing so will help you create an impersonal and objective style that perfectly aligns with academic conventions.
Example:
Passive voice: Several limitations were identified during the evaluation process.
Active voice: We identified several limitations during the evaluation process.
If the subject is already introduced, then repeating it again and again will make the academic write-up awkward and poorly written. That’s why it is better to go with passive voice in such cases to ensure smooth flow and good readability.
Example:
Passive voice: The survey responses were collected and analyzed before the final report was prepared.
Active voice: The researchers collected and analyzed the survey responses before they prepared the final report.
The debate over active vs passive voice sentences in academic writing has continued for a long time. Both sentence voices are grammatically valid and have their own strengths and weaknesses. However, active voice is generally preferred in academia because it makes writing direct, concise, and easy to understand for the audience. In specific situations, passive voice can also be used in academic writing.
The difference is who is actually performing the action. In active voice, subject is the actor, and in passive voice, the subject receives the action.
Active voice sentences are preferred in academic writing due to several reasons. This is because they are:
No! It is not considered wrong in academic writing. Passive voice is grammatically correct and generally used in certain case/situations.
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