Open Writing Lab

Passive vs Active Voice

13.05.2011 CGB

We wish to suggest a structure for the salt of deoxyribose nucleic acid (D.N.A.).

Watson JD, Crick FHC. Molecular structure of nucleic acids. Nature. 1953;171:737-738

Use active voice whenever possible

Quotes from journal style guides:Nature: "Nature journals like authors to write in the active voice ('we performed the experiment...') as experience has shown that readers find concepts and results to be conveyed more clearly if written directly."

 

Science: "Use active voice when suitable, particularly when necessary for correct syntax (e.g., 'To address this possibility, we constructed a lZap library ...,' not 'To address this possibility, a lZap library was constructed...')."

 

**check with the journal’s author’s guide

Use the passive when …

• The performer is unknown, irrelevant, or obvious

• The performer is less important than the action

• The recipient is the main topic

Examples of good practise:

"Twenty cc of acid is/was poured into the beaker."

NOT "I poured 20 cc of acid into the beaker."

Process details >> person doing process:

"The first coat of primer paint is applied immediately after the acid rinse."

Changing focus:

In active voice, “green plants” are the focus: “Green plants produce carbohydrates in the presence of light and chlorophyll.”

In passive voice "carbohydrates" are the focus: “Carbohydrates are produced by green plants in the presence of light and chlorophyll.”

More …

http://folk.uib.no/gmset/writing/practical_tips/passive_vs_active.html