How to Fix Passive Voice

How to Fix Passive Voice

Passive voice is a writing style which is typically used when you want the focus to be on the action rather than the subject. However, passive voice can make your sentences unclear and wordy. Here are some steps to help you fix passive voice in your writing.

1. Find the relevant verb. In a sentence written in passive voice, the verb will often be preceded by a form of "to be". For example, "The ball was caught by him."
2. Identify the subject. The subject receiving the action of the verb is the focus of the sentence. In the example above, "him" is the subject.
3. Make the sentence active. Rewrite the sentence so that the subject is performing the action. In the example, this might be rewritten as "He caught the ball."
4. Check for unnecessary words. When switching from passive to active voice, you may find additional words in the sentence that are unnecessary. If needed, delete the extra words to improve clarity.