Indirectness:
* Shifts focus away from the actor: Passive voice emphasizes the action (the verb) and the object of the action, hiding the doer of the action. This can make the sentence less clear and direct.
* Creates ambiguity: Sometimes, the passive voice leaves the agent of the action unspecified. This can be deliberate (e.g., "Mistakes were made" to avoid blaming anyone) but it can also lead to confusion.
Unfocus:
* Lacks clarity: Passive voice can create longer, more complex sentences. This can make the meaning harder to grasp quickly.
* Weakens impact: By obscuring the actor, passive voice can reduce the impact of the sentence. Active voice is usually more engaging and direct.
Slow Communication:
* Requires extra effort: Readers have to work harder to understand who did what when passive voice is used. This can slow down comprehension.
* Can sound formal and impersonal: Passive voice is often associated with bureaucratic or academic writing, which can make the communication seem less personable.
However, there are situations where passive voice can be useful:
* When the agent is unknown or unimportant: "The window was broken." (We don't know who broke it.)
* When emphasizing the action: "The ball was thrown." (We want to focus on the action itself.)
* When using a formal tone: "The report was submitted on time." (This phrase sounds more formal than "I submitted the report on time.")
Ultimately, the key is to use passive voice strategically. Choose active voice whenever possible to improve clarity, focus, and communication speed.