USING THE ACTIVE VOICE

In the active voice, the subject performs the action. In the passive voice, the subject has the action performed on it.

Using the active voice engages the audience more than the passive voice. For that reason, you should use the active voice to emphasize key points, and reserve the passive voice for facts you wish to de-emphasize.

EXAMPLES

1. Active: Mark wrote down the directions.
   Passive: The directions were written down by Mark.


2. Active: The army destroyed the wall.
   Passive: The wall was destroyed by the army.


3. Active: Lincoln won the election.
   Passive: The election was won by Lincoln.