The Passive Voice in Academic Writing
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In academic writing, the passive voice refers to a grammatical structure where the subject of the sentence receives the action rather than performing it. This contrasts with the active voice, where the subject actively performs the action.
The passive voice is often used in formal, academic contexts to emphasize the action or the object of the action rather than the person performing it.
In passive voice academic writing, this construction is common in scientific papers, reports, and research articles, where the focus is typically on the research or findings, not the researcher.
Key Points:
- Structure: Subject + form of “to be” + past participle (e.g., “The experiment was conducted”).
- Use: Common in academic contexts, especially when the performer is unknown or irrelevant.
- Benefits: Emphasizes the action or result, making it ideal for formal and objective writing.
By understanding passive voice, writers can choose when it is most effective to convey their message.
What is Passive Voice?
The passive voice is a sentence structure in which the object of an action becomes the subject of the sentence. This contrasts with the active voice, where the subject performs the action. In passive voice academic writing, this construction is often used to shift focus from the performer of the action to the action itself or the result. This can be particularly useful in scientific writing, where the emphasis is more on the findings than the researcher.
To effectively avoid redundancy in writing, it’s crucial to know when to use the passive voice. While active voice is direct and clear, the passive voice helps maintain a more formal tone and can avoid unnecessary repetition of the subject.
The general formula for the passive voice is:
object + verb “to be” + past participle (+by + performer)
There are several differences in the functions of active and passive voices. An active voice is used to emphasize who is performing the action.
Active vs. Passive Voice
- Active Voice: The subject performs the action.
Example: The government decided to build a new school in the city center.
- Passive Voice: The subject receives the action.
Example: A new school will be built in the city center.
In the active voice, the emphasis is on the action’s performer (the government). In contrast, the passive voice highlights the action or the result of the action, making it more suitable for formal and objective writing, as often required in academic papers.
Why Use the Passive Voice in Academic Writing?
While active voice is direct and clear, passive voice is frequently used in academic writing for its objectivity. It allows writers to focus on the research, results, or conclusions, rather than the researcher or subject performing the action. This approach is particularly useful when the performer of the action is either unknown, irrelevant, or implied.
Example:
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Active: The researchers discovered a new treatment for the disease.
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Passive: A new treatment for the disease was discovered.
In the passive version, the focus shifts from the researchers to the discovery itself, which is often more relevant in academic contexts.
Despite its usefulness, passive voice sometimes receives criticism for sounding vague or indirect. Grammar checkers often flag it as unclear, urging writers to prefer active constructions. However, passive voice still serves an important function in academic writing, offering clarity and focus when used appropriately.
When to Use the Passive Voice in Academic Writing
The passive voice is an essential tool in passive voice academic writing, offering several advantages depending on the context of the research. It helps add clarity, variety, and formality to the writing. Here are the main instances when passive voice is particularly beneficial in academic writing:
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Focus on the Action or Object. The primary use of passive voice is to shift focus from the subject to the action or the object. In cases where it is irrelevant who performed the action, the passive voice allows the action to take center stage. This is especially useful in research papers and lab reports, where the emphasis is on the findings rather than the researcher.
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Objectivity and Neutrality. Using passive voice adds a layer of objectivity to your writing by removing the personal pronouns or identities of the people involved in the action. This is particularly important in sections like methodology, where clarity and impartiality are crucial. Passive constructions help create a neutral tone, making the writing more formal and academic.
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Emphasis on the Recipient or Object. In academic writing, it’s often necessary to emphasize the research results or findings rather than the researcher. By using passive voice, the focus is placed on the results themselves, rather than the person performing the research. For example, “The results were analyzed” puts more emphasis on the findings than “We analyzed the results,” which focuses on the researcher.
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Writing a Clear and Concise Précis. In academic writing, passive voice is particularly helpful when writing a clear and concise précis of your research or findings. By shifting the focus from the researcher to the action or outcome, passive voice allows you to present your conclusions more succinctly and clearly, making your summary more direct and impactful.
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Vague or Unknown Doer. Sometimes, the identity of the performer of the action is irrelevant or unknown. In these cases, passive voice is useful to avoid specifying the doer. For instance, in scientific research, it may not always be necessary to identify who conducted the experiment, as the action and results are more important than the researcher’s identity.
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Formality and Impersonality. To maintain a formal tone and detach yourself from the opinion being expressed, the passive voice is often employed. For example, instead of saying, “I found that the method was effective,” you can say, “It was found that the method was effective.” This structure provides a more impersonal and objective statement, which is a common feature of academic writing.
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Reduced Pronoun Use. Passive voice is a great solution when you want to avoid excessive use of pronouns in your writing. In academic writing, reducing the number of pronouns makes sentences clearer and more formal. For example, “The data were analyzed” is more concise and avoids the awkwardness of using “we” or “I.”
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Contextual Considerations. Ultimately, whether you use passive or active voice should depend on the goals of your research and the context. Consider your purpose—are you aiming for clarity, objectivity, or emphasis on the action? In lab reports, the passive voice may be ideal for presenting results, while in more descriptive or personal sections, active voice might be more appropriate.
When to Avoid Passive Voice
The passive voice can be useful for constructing grammatically complex and interesting sentences. However, eloquence is not always encouraged in scientific writing, as researchers prioritize clarity and brevity.
For this reason, using a grammar checker will likely suggest changing passive sentences to active ones. Let’s discuss when and why writers should avoid using passive voice and opt for active voice sentences instead.
- Word Abundance: Passive sentences often require a larger verbal resource than their active counterparts. The structure of passive sentences is more complex, which leads to longer expressions. In academic writing, you’ll frequently need to opt for an active voice, as it requires fewer words and helps maintain clarity.
- Sentence Complexity: When choosing between active and passive voice, consider the complexity of the sentence structure. Passive sentences are generally more complicated and can be harder for readers to process. If your goal isn’t to shift focus, it’s better to stick with the simpler and more direct active voice. This ensures the clarity of your writing and avoids confusion, which is crucial in academic contexts.
- Lack of Research: Passive sentences can be useful when the performer of an action is unknown. However, a more appropriate scientific attitude would be to conduct additional research, study the sources, and identify who originated the idea you are mentioning. If you’re struggling to find this information, it might be better to write a lab report for you or ask for assistance in completing the necessary research thoroughly and responsibly.
- Overuse of Passive Voice: The passive voice serves its purpose effectively in academic writing, but overusing it can make your work overly complex and harder to follow. When misused, it may result in vague or indirect language, which detracts from the clarity of your points. For example, instead of focusing on the results, too much reliance on passive voice could dilute the emphasis you want to place on the subject. Using passive voice occasionally is effective, but balance is key, especially when considering tone words in literature or other forms of analysis where directness is valued.
Passive Voice in Different Academic Disciplines
The passive voice is widely used across various academic fields, but its purpose and frequency depend on the discipline.
In technical writing, particularly in the natural sciences, medicine, and STEM subjects, passive voice emphasizes the importance of research results rather than the researcher. It is commonly used in describing experiments and writing lab reports.
Example:
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Active voice: We conducted the experiment under controlled conditions.
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Passive voice: The experiment was conducted under controlled conditions. (The action is clear, so there’s no need to specify “we.”)
In the humanities, especially in language and literature studies, passive voice introduces variety into sentence structure. It is commonly used in narrative writing, where it is not considered vague. In fact, its use demonstrates a higher level of fluency, as it adds complexity to the text.
Striking a Balance: Active and Passive Voices
There are no inherently “good” or “bad” grammatical structures; it’s about knowing when to use each. The key is understanding the context in which you are writing and selecting the most effective voice for the message you want to convey. As a writer, it’s your responsibility to assess the academic context and adjust your use of active and passive voices accordingly.
By striking a balance between active and passive voices, you’ll enhance your ability to communicate clearly and persuasively. The passive voice serves many useful functions, especially in scientific and formal writing, so don’t shy away from using it.
Remember: practice and awareness of when to use each structure will help you improve your academic writing and make your arguments more compelling. We hope our article brings you closer to confidently applying both voices in your writing practice!
