Active Voice vs. Passive Voice: 50+ Examples for Writers
In active voice, the subject performs the action. In passive voice, the subject receives it. That is the entire grammatical difference — but its effect on your writing is enormous. Active voice is direct, clear, and energetic. Passive voice is indirect, often vague, and tends to drain momentum from sentences. Most writing improves immediately when you convert passive constructions to active ones.
Active Voice
Subject → Verb → Object
"The writer revised the manuscript."
Passive Voice
Object → "to be" + Past Participle → (by Subject)
"The manuscript was revised by the writer."
20 Side-by-Side Examples
Active Voice in Fiction
Fiction demands active voice more than any other form of writing. Readers experience your story through action — characters doing things, making choices, confronting consequences. Passive voice puts a pane of glass between the reader and the scene.
The sword was drawn from its sheath and the enemy was confronted.
She drew the sword from its sheath and confronted the enemy.
Active voice reveals the character and makes the action cinematic.
The room was entered and a strange smell was noticed.
He entered the room and noticed a strange smell.
Active voice establishes point of view — we experience the scene through a specific person.
A scream was heard in the distance.
A scream echoed from the distance.
Even without naming a subject, you can make the sentence active by choosing a strong verb.
The lie was believed by everyone.
Everyone believed the lie.
Active voice puts emphasis on the people who matter — the ones being deceived.
The gun was fired and the silence was shattered.
The gun fired. Silence shattered.
Short active sentences create urgency. Passive voice dilutes it.
How to Spot Passive Voice
Passive voice follows predictable patterns. Learn to recognize these constructions and you will catch them automatically during revision.
"was/were + past participle"
was broken, were taken, was written
The most common passive construction. Ask: who did the breaking, taking, or writing?
"has/had been + past participle"
has been decided, had been told
Past perfect passive — often buries important information about agency.
"is being + past participle"
is being reviewed, are being considered
Progressive passive — common in bureaucratic writing. Usually replaceable.
"will be + past participle"
will be completed, will be sent
Future passive — weakens commitments. "I will complete it" is stronger than "It will be completed."
Agent-less passive (no "by" phrase)
Mistakes were made. The data was lost.
The most dangerous passive — it erases the actor entirely. Always ask: who?
When Passive Voice Is the Right Choice
Passive voice is not always wrong. There are specific situations where it is the better choice:
When the actor is unknown or irrelevant
"The temple was built around 500 BCE." We do not know who built it, and the focus is on the temple, not the builders. Forcing active voice here ("Someone built the temple") adds nothing.
When you want to emphasize the object
"The president was assassinated." The emphasis belongs on the president, not the assassin. Passive voice puts the important information first.
When you want to create distance or ambiguity
In fiction, passive voice can deliberately obscure agency to create mystery or unease. "The door had been left open" is more unsettling than "Someone left the door open" — because the passive leaves the question hanging.
Write Stronger Sentences Every Day
Active voice is a habit — and habits are built through daily practice. Hearth tracks your writing streaks and keeps you consistent.
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