* Is more concise and direct: Active voice uses a clear subject-verb-object structure, making the meaning more straightforward and easily understood.
* Is more engaging: Active voice creates a sense of immediacy and dynamism, making your writing more engaging for the reader.
* Emphasizes the actor: Active voice focuses on the performer of the action, making the sentence more impactful and highlighting their role.
* Avoids ambiguity: Active voice eliminates potential confusion about who or what is performing the action.
* Is generally considered more formal: While passive voice has its uses, active voice is often preferred in academic and professional writing.
Example:
Passive: The ball was hit by the batter.
Active: The batter hit the ball.
The active voice version is more concise, engaging, and emphasizes the batter's action.
However, there are times when using passive voice is appropriate:
* When the actor is unknown or unimportant: "The window was broken."
* When you want to emphasize the object of the action: "The patient was treated by the doctor."
* When you want to avoid assigning blame: "Mistakes were made."
In general, aim for active voice as the default, but don't be afraid to use passive voice when it's appropriate for your purpose.