{"id":161,"date":"2025-09-13T20:50:22","date_gmt":"2025-09-13T20:50:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/libraryresources.nse.org.ng\/professionalandtechnicalcommunication\/chapter\/6-8-active-vs-passive-voice\/"},"modified":"2026-03-16T14:19:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T14:19:33","slug":"6-8-active-vs-passive-voice","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/libraryresources.nse.org.ng\/professionalandtechnicalcommunication\/chapter\/6-8-active-vs-passive-voice\/","title":{"raw":"6.9 Active vs. Passive Voice","rendered":"6.9 Active vs. Passive Voice"},"content":{"raw":"Let\u2019s differentiate between active and passive voice. In addition, we will list the benefits of each and discuss when to use passive voice. See Table 6.1 in which arrows and words are used to differentiate between active and passive voice.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Table 6.1 Difference between Active and Passive Voice<\/caption>\n
Active <\/strong><\/th>\nPassive <\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
S \u2192 V \u2192 O <\/strong><\/td>\nS \u2190 V \u2190 O \u2190<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Subject \u2192<\/strong> actively performs the action of the verb \u2192 to the object of the sentence<\/td>\nSubject \u2190<\/strong> passively receives the action of the verb \u2190<\/strong> from the object<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Subject \u2192<\/strong> acts \u2192 on object<\/td>\nSubject \u2190 <\/strong>is acted upon \u2190<\/strong> by the object<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Benefits of Active Voice<\/h2>\n

Clear \/ Direct \/ Easy to Understand<\/h3>\nActive voice sentences are clear. There\u2019s no mistaking who is performing the action, and what the action is. Clarity is one of the characteristics of effective professional writing, and an active voice contributes to that clarity. See examples below:\n
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Examples<\/h4>\n<\/header>\n
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