🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 145 (from laksa090)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa145.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know\/","crawl_time":1776607405,"first_indexed_time":1506366555,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,acrolinx!www,\/blog\/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know\/ s443","src_root_hash":"14740106613037478745","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Passive vs. Active Voice: What You Need to Know","meta_descriptions":["Explore our guide on passive vs. active voice. Learn tips to keep your writing clear, concise, and impactful by using active voice for successful content."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Skip to content\nWe have some big news. New brand, new product, new us! Acrolinx is now Markup AI. \nLearn more.\nPassive vs. Active Voice: What You Need to Know\nWith linguistic quirks and ambiguities galore,\nthe English language\ncan trip up even the most knowledgeable native speakers. Add writing to the mix, and… well, let’s just say, we’ve all read a poorly written blog post or press release in our day. One common error that people make when writing is\nusing passive instead of active voice\n. But what exactly is active voice? And why is it usually preferable to a more passive approach? Let’s take a look.\nUnderstanding the basics: Active vs. passive voice explained\nIf you’re wondering what the difference is between active and passive voice, your first clue lies in their names themselves. With active voice, the subject (a noun) performs the action expressed by the verb. The direct object receives the action.\nSteve pushed Mark into the pool.\nIn this example, Steve is the subject and Mark is the direct object (i.e., the target of the action).\nIn passive voice, the direct object gets promoted two pay-grades, and becomes the subject!\nMark was pushed into the pool by Steve.\nHere, while Mark is now the subject of the sentence, he’s not really doing anything (except having a bad day if he’s wearing a three-piece suit). Instead, he’s passively sitting back, and\nreceiving\nthe action of being pushed into the pool.\nWhile it’s not technically incorrect to use passive voice in your writing, we would probably all agree that the first sentence is more exciting, lively, and succinct. In other words, it’s active. While the second sentence tells the same story, it’s wordy, weak, and, frankly, a little flabby.\nWhen to use passive voice\nYou probably learned in school that you’re supposed to avoid passive voice at all costs. But it actually isn’t technically wrong. In fact, there are times when it makes sense to opt for passive voice over active voice. For example, when:\nYou legitimately want to bring attention to the receiver of the action, instead of the ones performing the action: “The waiter was pushed into the pool.”\nThe person performing the action is unknown or unimportant: “A cheeseburger was accidentally dropped into the pool.”\nWhen you want to intentionally avoid identifying the performer of the action: “The fines for damaging the pool will be collected on Monday.”\nPassive voice\nis also regularly used in scientific writing to take the researcher(s) out of the equation. In fiction, it’s used as a way to build tension or downplay actions. Meanwhile, it’s also common in journalism. (As in, “A wave of pool-related incidents was reported at the local country club.”)\nPassive voice checker: What is it?\nIf you’re unsure whether your\ntone of voice\nis correct, a passive voice checker can be a valuable tool for refining your writing. While active voice typically creates clearer, more direct sentences, passive voice has its place in specific contexts, such as scientific writing, formal reports, or situations where the focus is on the action’s receiver. A passive voice checker helps you identify passive constructions in your text, allowing you to decide when to revise for clarity or when passive voice best serves your purpose.\nBy the way, Acrolinx checks for passive voice, but it’s more than a passive voice checker: It’s content governance software!\nHow to write in active voice\nWhen it comes to choosing between active and passive voice, keep these three tips in mind:\n1. Write for clarity\nRemember, extra words make reading laborious (something you definitely want to avoid when creating content for your customers) and writing flabby. Use active voice where possible to tighten and tone your content.\n2. Think SAT: Subject, action, target\nGood writers take a couple of stabs at a blog post or article before it’s complete. At the polishing stage, remember SAT — subject, action, target — and edit accordingly where possible.\n3. Use the “zombies” test\nWait. What? Zombies? Yes, and here’s why. If you’re not sure if a sentence is in active or passive voice, try adding “by zombies” to the end of it. If it makes sense, your sentence is probably passive. For example, “The pool water was fouled (by zombies!)” is a passive sentence. And, if you’ve been following along, you know that it’s also inaccurate. The pool in question was actually fouled by a cheeseburger.\nUsing this trick can help you spot and revise passive sentences to keep your content clear and engaging.\nElevate your writing: Keep It clear, concise, and active\nSimple writing\nshould flow seamlessly, be clear and concise, and be free from unnecessary words or overly long sentences. We hope these tips help keep your writing as active as possible. When you need a hand, a passive-to-active voice converter can be valuable for creating impactful, engaging content. For more grammar tips, check out our\nGrammar Guide for Busy People\n.\nAnother resource to explore is Acrolinx! Our\nAI content governance software\nhelps people create content that is more\nfindable\n,\nreadable\n, and enjoyable. By defining your\nenterprise content guidelines\n, Acrolinx provides\ncontent quality assurance\nacross more than\n50 authoring tools\n, ensuring on-brand content and eliminating unwanted passive voice.\nAre you ready to create more content faster?\nSchedule a demo to see how content governance and AI guardrails will drastically improve content quality, compliance, and efficiency.\nThe Acrolinx Team\nContinue reading","attrs_markdown":"![](https:\/\/dc.ads.linkedin.com\/collect\/?pid=162193&fmt=gif)\n\n[Skip to content](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know\/#fl-main-content)\n\nWe have some big news. New brand, new product, new us! Acrolinx is now Markup AI. [Learn more.](https:\/\/markup.ai\/)\n\n[![Acrolinx logo](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/acrolinx-logo.png)](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/)\n\n[Request a Demo](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/request-demo\/)\n\n- [Product](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/product\/)\n  - [Product Section](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know\/)\n    - [Create & Edit]()\n      - [Enterprise Guidance](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/enterprise-guidance\/)\n      - [Editorial Assistance](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/editorial-assistance\/)\n    - [Govern & Analyze]()\n      - [Automated Governance](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/automation\/)\n      - [Analytics & Reporting](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/analytics-and-reporting\/)\n      - [Best-In-Class LLM](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/enterprise-llm\/)\n      - [AI Guardrails](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/ai-guardrails\/)\n      - [Content Supply Chain](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/content-supply-chain\/)\n    - [All Products](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/product\/)\n  - [Integrations Section](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know\/)\n    - Integrations \\| 40+\n      \n      [![Github](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/menu-integration-github.png) Github](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/integrations\/)\n      \n      [![Adobe Experience Manager icon.](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/AEMicon.png) AEM](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/acrolinx-and-adobe-a-complete-creative-solution-for-enterprise-content\/)\n      \n      [![Visual Studio Code.](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/code-stable.png) VS Code](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/integrations\/)\n      \n      [![Menu integration salesforce](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/menu-integration-salesforce.png) SalesForce](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/welcome-to-the-acrolinx-connector-for-salesforce-knowledge\/)\n      \n      [![Oxygen XML Editor](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Oxygen.png) Oxygen XML](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/integrations\/)\n    - [All Integrations](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/integrations\/)\n- [Value](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/value\/)\n- [Solutions](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know\/)\n  - [Use Cases]()\n    - [For Marketing](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/for-marketing\/)\n    - [For Product](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/for-product\/)\n    - [For Support](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/for-support\/)\n    - [For Inclusive Language](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/for-inclusive-language\/)\n    - [For Technical Communication](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/for-technical-communication\/)\n    - [For Translation](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/translatability\/)\n  - [Industries]()\n    - [Financial Services](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/financial-services\/)\n    - [Life Sciences](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/life-sciences\/)\n    - [Technology](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/technology\/)\n    - [Manufacturing](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/manufacturing\/)\n- [Resources](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/resources\/)\n  - [Resources Section](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know\/)\n    - [Resources]()\n      - [Blog](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/)\n      - [Case Studies](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/case-studies\/)\n      - [Webinars](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/webinars\/)\n      - [Guides](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/guides\/)\n      - [Reports](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/reports\/)\n      - [eBooks](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/ebooks\/)\n      - [Videos](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/videos\/)\n    - [All Resources](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/resources\/)\n  - [Case Section](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know\/)\n    - Case Studies\n      \n      ![Siemens healthineers](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/siemens-healthineers.jpg)\n      \n      Siemens Healthineers\n      \n      “We want to speak in the language of our users. To speak in all our product & web content in one consistent voice.”\n      \n      [Learn More](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/case-studies\/siemens-healthineers\/)\n- [Company](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know\/)\n  - [Company Section](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know\/)\n    - [Company]()\n      - [About Us](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/about\/)\n      - [Events](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/events\/)\n      - [Partners](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/partners\/)\n      - [Support](https:\/\/support.acrolinx.com\/hc\/en-us)\n      - [Security](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/information-security-and-data-privacy\/)\n      - [Contact](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/contact\/)\n    - [Information]()\n      - [News Releases](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/news-releases\/)\n      - [Media Coverage](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/media-coverage\/)\n      - [Media Kit](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/media-kit\/)\n      - [FAQs](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/frequently-asked-questions\/)\n  - [Meet Section](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know\/)\n    - Meet Acrolinx\n      \n      ![Acrolinx Berlin](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/acrolinx-berlin.jpg)\n      \n      We envision a world connected by amazing content. So our mission is to supercharge the billions of enterprise content touchpoints that power the global customer experience.\n      \n      [Learn More](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/about\/)\n- [EN](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know\/#pll_switcher)\n  - [DE](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/de\/blog\/passivkonstruktionen-tipps-anwendung\/)\n  - [EN](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know\/)\n- [Request a Demo](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/request-demo\/)\n\n[Request a Demo](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/request-demo\/)\n\n[Grammar Tips](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/category\/grammar-tips\/)\n\n# Passive vs. Active Voice: What You Need to Know\nBy [The Acrolinx Team](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/author\/acrolinx-team\/)   3  min read November 7, 2024\n\n![To illustrate a blog about passive vs. active voice, an image of a microphone stands for active voice.](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/passive-active-voice-blog.jpg)\n\nWith linguistic quirks and ambiguities galore, [the English language](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/language-variations-between-us-uk-and-australian-english\/) can trip up even the most knowledgeable native speakers. Add writing to the mix, and… well, let’s just say, we’ve all read a poorly written blog post or press release in our day. One common error that people make when writing is [using passive instead of active voice](http:\/\/www.quickanddirtytips.com\/education\/grammar\/avoid-this-common-passive-voice-mistake). But what exactly is active voice? And why is it usually preferable to a more passive approach? Let’s take a look.\n\n## **Understanding the basics: Active vs. passive voice explained**\nIf you’re wondering what the difference is between active and passive voice, your first clue lies in their names themselves. With active voice, the subject (a noun) performs the action expressed by the verb. The direct object receives the action.\n\n*Steve pushed Mark into the pool.*\n\nIn this example, Steve is the subject and Mark is the direct object (i.e., the target of the action).\n\nReady to brush up on your grammar?\n\n[Get the Guide\\!](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/guides\/the-grammar-guide-for-busy-people\/)\n\n![Dark book cover for the Grammar Guide.](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Grammar-Guide.png)\n\nIn passive voice, the direct object gets promoted two pay-grades, and becomes the subject\\!\n\n*Mark was pushed into the pool by Steve.*\n\nHere, while Mark is now the subject of the sentence, he’s not really doing anything (except having a bad day if he’s wearing a three-piece suit). Instead, he’s passively sitting back, and *receiving* the action of being pushed into the pool.\n\nWhile it’s not technically incorrect to use passive voice in your writing, we would probably all agree that the first sentence is more exciting, lively, and succinct. In other words, it’s active. While the second sentence tells the same story, it’s wordy, weak, and, frankly, a little flabby.\n\n## When to use passive voice\nYou probably learned in school that you’re supposed to avoid passive voice at all costs. But it actually isn’t technically wrong. In fact, there are times when it makes sense to opt for passive voice over active voice. For example, when:\n\n- You legitimately want to bring attention to the receiver of the action, instead of the ones performing the action: “The waiter was pushed into the pool.”\n- The person performing the action is unknown or unimportant: “A cheeseburger was accidentally dropped into the pool.”\n- When you want to intentionally avoid identifying the performer of the action: “The fines for damaging the pool will be collected on Monday.”\n\n[Passive voice](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/writing-mistakes-our-biggest-content-pet-peeves\/) is also regularly used in scientific writing to take the researcher(s) out of the equation. In fiction, it’s used as a way to build tension or downplay actions. Meanwhile, it’s also common in journalism. (As in, “A wave of pool-related incidents was reported at the local country club.”)\n\n## Passive voice checker: What is it?\nIf you’re unsure whether your [tone of voice](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Acrolinx-Tone-of-Voice-Letter-1.pdf) is correct, a passive voice checker can be a valuable tool for refining your writing. While active voice typically creates clearer, more direct sentences, passive voice has its place in specific contexts, such as scientific writing, formal reports, or situations where the focus is on the action’s receiver. A passive voice checker helps you identify passive constructions in your text, allowing you to decide when to revise for clarity or when passive voice best serves your purpose.\n\nBy the way, Acrolinx checks for passive voice, but it’s more than a passive voice checker: It’s content governance software\\!\n\n## How to write in active voice\nWhen it comes to choosing between active and passive voice, keep these three tips in mind:\n\n### 1\\. Write for clarity\nRemember, extra words make reading laborious (something you definitely want to avoid when creating content for your customers) and writing flabby. Use active voice where possible to tighten and tone your content.\n\n### 2\\. Think SAT: Subject, action, target\nGood writers take a couple of stabs at a blog post or article before it’s complete. At the polishing stage, remember SAT — subject, action, target — and edit accordingly where possible.\n\n### 3\\. Use the “zombies” test\nWait. What? Zombies? Yes, and here’s why. If you’re not sure if a sentence is in active or passive voice, try adding “by zombies” to the end of it. If it makes sense, your sentence is probably passive. For example, “The pool water was fouled (by zombies!)” is a passive sentence. And, if you’ve been following along, you know that it’s also inaccurate. The pool in question was actually fouled by a cheeseburger.\n\nUsing this trick can help you spot and revise passive sentences to keep your content clear and engaging.\n\n## Elevate your writing: Keep It clear, concise, and active\n[Simple writing](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/simple-writing-why-it-works-how-to-do-it\/) should flow seamlessly, be clear and concise, and be free from unnecessary words or overly long sentences. We hope these tips help keep your writing as active as possible. When you need a hand, a passive-to-active voice converter can be valuable for creating impactful, engaging content. For more grammar tips, check out our [*Grammar Guide for Busy People*](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/guides\/the-grammar-guide-for-busy-people\/\/).\n\nAnother resource to explore is Acrolinx! Our [AI content governance software](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/product\/\/) helps people create content that is more [findable](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/how-to-build-a-more-findable-website-with-mordy-oberstein\/), [readable](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/automated-readability-checks-for-clear-enterprise-content\/), and enjoyable. By defining your [enterprise content guidelines](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/enterprise-guidance\/), Acrolinx provides [content quality assurance](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/editorial-assistance\/) across more than [50 authoring tools](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/integrations\/), ensuring on-brand content and eliminating unwanted passive voice.\n\n## Are you ready to create more content faster?\nSchedule a demo to see how content governance and AI guardrails will drastically improve content quality, compliance, and efficiency.\n\n[Request a Demo](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/request-demo\/)\n\n![Acrolinx icon.](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/App-Circle-Icon-180x180-1.webp)\n\nThe Acrolinx Team\n\n## Continue reading\n[![](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/5-characteristics-great-content-blog-1024x532.png)](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/5-characteristics-of-great-content\/ \"What Makes Content Good? The 5 Characteristics to Know\")\n\n[Content Creation](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/category\/content-creation\/)[Content Impact](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/category\/content-impact\/)\n\n### [What Makes Content Good? The 5 Characteristics to Know](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/5-characteristics-of-great-content\/ \"What Makes Content Good? The 5 Characteristics to Know\")\nBy The Acrolinx Team   4  min read\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/5-characteristics-of-great-content\/)\n\n[![What Is Tone of Voice and Why Does It Matter?](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Tone-of-Voice-blog-1-1024x532.png)](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/what-is-tone-of-voice\/ \"What Is Tone of Voice and Why Does It Matter?\")\n\n[Content Guidelines](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/category\/content-guidelines\/)[Tone of Voice](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/category\/tone-of-voice\/)\n\n### [What Is Tone of Voice and Why Does It Matter?](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/what-is-tone-of-voice\/ \"What Is Tone of Voice and Why Does It Matter?\")\nBy The Acrolinx Team   4  min read\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/what-is-tone-of-voice\/)\n\n[![On a neutral background, blue triangular shapes are shown to symbolize consistent content.](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Consistent-Content-blog-1024x625.png)](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/marketing-research-consistent-content-important\/ \"Marketing and Content: The Critical Importance of Consistent Writing Standards\")\n\n[Content Creation](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/category\/content-creation\/)[Content Guidelines](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/category\/content-guidelines\/)[Marketing](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/category\/marketing\/)\n\n### [Marketing and Content: The Critical Importance of Consistent Writing Standards](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/marketing-research-consistent-content-important\/ \"Marketing and Content: The Critical Importance of Consistent Writing Standards\")\nBy The Acrolinx Team   9  min read\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/marketing-research-consistent-content-important\/)\n\n[![Acrolinx content performance scorecard visually showcasing key metrics for evaluating content quality.](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Content-performance-scorecard-visual-1024x532.png)](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/creating-high-quality-content-importance-performance-scorecards\/ \"Content Scoring: How to Measure and Improve Content Quality With Performance Scorecards\")\n\n[Artificial Intelligence](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/category\/artificial-intelligence\/)[Content Analytics](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/category\/content-analytics\/)[Content Impact](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/category\/content-impact\/)\n\n### [Content Scoring: How to Measure and Improve Content Quality With Performance Scorecards](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/creating-high-quality-content-importance-performance-scorecards\/ \"Content Scoring: How to Measure and Improve Content Quality With Performance Scorecards\")\nBy The Acrolinx Team   9  min read\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/creating-high-quality-content-importance-performance-scorecards\/)\n\n![Acrolinx logo](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/acrolinx-logo.png)\n\n![Rewards badged](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/acrolinx-rewards.png)\n\nWant access to our content before anyone else? 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[Resources Section](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know\/)\n    - [Resources]()\n      - [Blog](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/)\n      - [Case Studies](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/case-studies\/)\n      - [Webinars](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/webinars\/)\n      - [Guides](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/guides\/)\n      - [Reports](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/reports\/)\n      - [eBooks](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/ebooks\/)\n      - [Videos](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/videos\/)\n    - [All Resources](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/resources\/)\n  - [Case Section](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know\/)\n    - Case Studies\n      \n      ![Siemens healthineers](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/siemens-healthineers.jpg)\n      \n      Siemens Healthineers\n      \n      “We want to speak in the language of our users. To speak in all our product & web content in one consistent voice.”\n      \n      [Learn More](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/case-studies\/siemens-healthineers\/)\n- [Company](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know\/)\n  - [Company Section](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know\/)\n    - [Company]()\n      - [About Us](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/about\/)\n      - [Events](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/events\/)\n      - [Partners](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/partners\/)\n      - [Support](https:\/\/support.acrolinx.com\/hc\/en-us)\n      - [Security](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/information-security-and-data-privacy\/)\n      - [Contact](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/contact\/)\n    - [Information]()\n      - [News Releases](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/news-releases\/)\n      - [Media Coverage](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/media-coverage\/)\n      - [Media Kit](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/media-kit\/)\n      - [FAQs](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/frequently-asked-questions\/)\n  - [Meet Section](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know\/)\n    - Meet Acrolinx\n      \n      ![Acrolinx Berlin](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/acrolinx-berlin.jpg)\n      \n      We envision a world connected by amazing content. So our mission is to supercharge the billions of enterprise content touchpoints that power the global customer experience.\n      \n      [Learn More](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/about\/)\n- [EN](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know\/#pll_switcher)\n  - [DE](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/de\/blog\/passivkonstruktionen-tipps-anwendung\/)\n  - [EN](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know\/)\n- [Request a Demo](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/request-demo\/)","attrs_readable_markdown":"![](https:\/\/dc.ads.linkedin.com\/collect\/?pid=162193&fmt=gif)\n\n[Skip to content](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know\/#fl-main-content)\n\nWe have some big news. New brand, new product, new us! Acrolinx is now Markup AI. [Learn more.](https:\/\/markup.ai\/)\n\n[![Acrolinx logo](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/acrolinx-logo.png)](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/)\n\n## Passive vs. Active Voice: What You Need to Know\n![To illustrate a blog about passive vs. active voice, an image of a microphone stands for active voice.](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/passive-active-voice-blog.jpg)\n\nWith linguistic quirks and ambiguities galore, [the English language](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/language-variations-between-us-uk-and-australian-english\/) can trip up even the most knowledgeable native speakers. Add writing to the mix, and… well, let’s just say, we’ve all read a poorly written blog post or press release in our day. One common error that people make when writing is [using passive instead of active voice](http:\/\/www.quickanddirtytips.com\/education\/grammar\/avoid-this-common-passive-voice-mistake). But what exactly is active voice? And why is it usually preferable to a more passive approach? Let’s take a look.\n\n## **Understanding the basics: Active vs. passive voice explained**\nIf you’re wondering what the difference is between active and passive voice, your first clue lies in their names themselves. With active voice, the subject (a noun) performs the action expressed by the verb. The direct object receives the action.\n\n*Steve pushed Mark into the pool.*\n\nIn this example, Steve is the subject and Mark is the direct object (i.e., the target of the action).\n\nIn passive voice, the direct object gets promoted two pay-grades, and becomes the subject\\!\n\n*Mark was pushed into the pool by Steve.*\n\nHere, while Mark is now the subject of the sentence, he’s not really doing anything (except having a bad day if he’s wearing a three-piece suit). Instead, he’s passively sitting back, and *receiving* the action of being pushed into the pool.\n\nWhile it’s not technically incorrect to use passive voice in your writing, we would probably all agree that the first sentence is more exciting, lively, and succinct. In other words, it’s active. While the second sentence tells the same story, it’s wordy, weak, and, frankly, a little flabby.\n\n## When to use passive voice\nYou probably learned in school that you’re supposed to avoid passive voice at all costs. But it actually isn’t technically wrong. In fact, there are times when it makes sense to opt for passive voice over active voice. For example, when:\n\n- You legitimately want to bring attention to the receiver of the action, instead of the ones performing the action: “The waiter was pushed into the pool.”\n- The person performing the action is unknown or unimportant: “A cheeseburger was accidentally dropped into the pool.”\n- When you want to intentionally avoid identifying the performer of the action: “The fines for damaging the pool will be collected on Monday.”\n\n[Passive voice](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/writing-mistakes-our-biggest-content-pet-peeves\/) is also regularly used in scientific writing to take the researcher(s) out of the equation. In fiction, it’s used as a way to build tension or downplay actions. Meanwhile, it’s also common in journalism. (As in, “A wave of pool-related incidents was reported at the local country club.”)\n\n## Passive voice checker: What is it?\nIf you’re unsure whether your [tone of voice](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Acrolinx-Tone-of-Voice-Letter-1.pdf) is correct, a passive voice checker can be a valuable tool for refining your writing. While active voice typically creates clearer, more direct sentences, passive voice has its place in specific contexts, such as scientific writing, formal reports, or situations where the focus is on the action’s receiver. A passive voice checker helps you identify passive constructions in your text, allowing you to decide when to revise for clarity or when passive voice best serves your purpose.\n\nBy the way, Acrolinx checks for passive voice, but it’s more than a passive voice checker: It’s content governance software\\!\n\n## How to write in active voice\nWhen it comes to choosing between active and passive voice, keep these three tips in mind:\n\n### 1\\. Write for clarity\nRemember, extra words make reading laborious (something you definitely want to avoid when creating content for your customers) and writing flabby. Use active voice where possible to tighten and tone your content.\n\n### 2\\. Think SAT: Subject, action, target\nGood writers take a couple of stabs at a blog post or article before it’s complete. At the polishing stage, remember SAT — subject, action, target — and edit accordingly where possible.\n\n### 3\\. Use the “zombies” test\nWait. What? Zombies? Yes, and here’s why. If you’re not sure if a sentence is in active or passive voice, try adding “by zombies” to the end of it. If it makes sense, your sentence is probably passive. For example, “The pool water was fouled (by zombies!)” is a passive sentence. And, if you’ve been following along, you know that it’s also inaccurate. The pool in question was actually fouled by a cheeseburger.\n\nUsing this trick can help you spot and revise passive sentences to keep your content clear and engaging.\n\n## Elevate your writing: Keep It clear, concise, and active\n[Simple writing](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/simple-writing-why-it-works-how-to-do-it\/) should flow seamlessly, be clear and concise, and be free from unnecessary words or overly long sentences. We hope these tips help keep your writing as active as possible. When you need a hand, a passive-to-active voice converter can be valuable for creating impactful, engaging content. For more grammar tips, check out our [*Grammar Guide for Busy People*](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/guides\/the-grammar-guide-for-busy-people\/\/).\n\nAnother resource to explore is Acrolinx! Our [AI content governance software](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/product\/\/) helps people create content that is more [findable](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/how-to-build-a-more-findable-website-with-mordy-oberstein\/), [readable](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/blog\/automated-readability-checks-for-clear-enterprise-content\/), and enjoyable. By defining your [enterprise content guidelines](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/enterprise-guidance\/), Acrolinx provides [content quality assurance](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/editorial-assistance\/) across more than [50 authoring tools](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/integrations\/), ensuring on-brand content and eliminating unwanted passive voice.\n\n## Are you ready to create more content faster?\nSchedule a demo to see how content governance and AI guardrails will drastically improve content quality, compliance, and efficiency.\n\n![Acrolinx icon.](https:\/\/www.acrolinx.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/App-Circle-Icon-180x180-1.webp)\n\nThe Acrolinx Team\n## Continue reading\n\n[![](https:\/\/acrolinxdev.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/learn-more-markupai.png)](https:\/\/markup.ai\/)","meta_canonical":null}

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Boilerpipe Text	Skip to content We have some big news. New brand, new product, new us! Acrolinx is now Markup AI. Learn more. Passive vs. Active Voice: What You Need to Know With linguistic quirks and ambiguities galore, the English language can trip up even the most knowledgeable native speakers. Add writing to the mix, and… well, let’s just say, we’ve all read a poorly written blog post or press release in our day. One common error that people make when writing is using passive instead of active voice . But what exactly is active voice? And why is it usually preferable to a more passive approach? Let’s take a look. Understanding the basics: Active vs. passive voice explained If you’re wondering what the difference is between active and passive voice, your first clue lies in their names themselves. With active voice, the subject (a noun) performs the action expressed by the verb. The direct object receives the action. Steve pushed Mark into the pool. In this example, Steve is the subject and Mark is the direct object (i.e., the target of the action). In passive voice, the direct object gets promoted two pay-grades, and becomes the subject! Mark was pushed into the pool by Steve. Here, while Mark is now the subject of the sentence, he’s not really doing anything (except having a bad day if he’s wearing a three-piece suit). Instead, he’s passively sitting back, and receiving the action of being pushed into the pool. While it’s not technically incorrect to use passive voice in your writing, we would probably all agree that the first sentence is more exciting, lively, and succinct. In other words, it’s active. While the second sentence tells the same story, it’s wordy, weak, and, frankly, a little flabby. When to use passive voice You probably learned in school that you’re supposed to avoid passive voice at all costs. But it actually isn’t technically wrong. In fact, there are times when it makes sense to opt for passive voice over active voice. For example, when: You legitimately want to bring attention to the receiver of the action, instead of the ones performing the action: “The waiter was pushed into the pool.” The person performing the action is unknown or unimportant: “A cheeseburger was accidentally dropped into the pool.” When you want to intentionally avoid identifying the performer of the action: “The fines for damaging the pool will be collected on Monday.” Passive voice is also regularly used in scientific writing to take the researcher(s) out of the equation. In fiction, it’s used as a way to build tension or downplay actions. Meanwhile, it’s also common in journalism. (As in, “A wave of pool-related incidents was reported at the local country club.”) Passive voice checker: What is it? If you’re unsure whether your tone of voice is correct, a passive voice checker can be a valuable tool for refining your writing. While active voice typically creates clearer, more direct sentences, passive voice has its place in specific contexts, such as scientific writing, formal reports, or situations where the focus is on the action’s receiver. A passive voice checker helps you identify passive constructions in your text, allowing you to decide when to revise for clarity or when passive voice best serves your purpose. By the way, Acrolinx checks for passive voice, but it’s more than a passive voice checker: It’s content governance software! How to write in active voice When it comes to choosing between active and passive voice, keep these three tips in mind: 1. Write for clarity Remember, extra words make reading laborious (something you definitely want to avoid when creating content for your customers) and writing flabby. Use active voice where possible to tighten and tone your content. 2. Think SAT: Subject, action, target Good writers take a couple of stabs at a blog post or article before it’s complete. At the polishing stage, remember SAT — subject, action, target — and edit accordingly where possible. 3. Use the “zombies” test Wait. What? Zombies? Yes, and here’s why. If you’re not sure if a sentence is in active or passive voice, try adding “by zombies” to the end of it. If it makes sense, your sentence is probably passive. For example, “The pool water was fouled (by zombies!)” is a passive sentence. And, if you’ve been following along, you know that it’s also inaccurate. The pool in question was actually fouled by a cheeseburger. Using this trick can help you spot and revise passive sentences to keep your content clear and engaging. Elevate your writing: Keep It clear, concise, and active Simple writing should flow seamlessly, be clear and concise, and be free from unnecessary words or overly long sentences. We hope these tips help keep your writing as active as possible. When you need a hand, a passive-to-active voice converter can be valuable for creating impactful, engaging content. For more grammar tips, check out our Grammar Guide for Busy People . Another resource to explore is Acrolinx! Our AI content governance software helps people create content that is more findable , readable , and enjoyable. By defining your enterprise content guidelines , Acrolinx provides content quality assurance across more than 50 authoring tools , ensuring on-brand content and eliminating unwanted passive voice. Are you ready to create more content faster? Schedule a demo to see how content governance and AI guardrails will drastically improve content quality, compliance, and efficiency. The Acrolinx Team Continue reading
Markdown	![](https://dc.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=162193&fmt=gif) [Skip to content](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know/#fl-main-content) We have some big news. New brand, new product, new us! Acrolinx is now Markup AI. 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To speak in all our product & web content in one consistent voice.” [Learn More](https://www.acrolinx.com/case-studies/siemens-healthineers/) - [Company](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know/) - [Company Section](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know/) - [Company]() - [About Us](https://www.acrolinx.com/about/) - [Events](https://www.acrolinx.com/events/) - [Partners](https://www.acrolinx.com/partners/) - [Support](https://support.acrolinx.com/hc/en-us) - [Security](https://www.acrolinx.com/information-security-and-data-privacy/) - [Contact](https://www.acrolinx.com/contact/) - [Information]() - [News Releases](https://www.acrolinx.com/news-releases/) - [Media Coverage](https://www.acrolinx.com/media-coverage/) - [Media Kit](https://www.acrolinx.com/media-kit/) - [FAQs](https://www.acrolinx.com/frequently-asked-questions/) - [Meet Section](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know/) - Meet Acrolinx ![Acrolinx Berlin](https://www.acrolinx.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/acrolinx-berlin.jpg) We envision a world connected by amazing content. So our mission is to supercharge the billions of enterprise content touchpoints that power the global customer experience. [Learn More](https://www.acrolinx.com/about/) - [EN](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know/#pll_switcher) - [DE](https://www.acrolinx.com/de/blog/passivkonstruktionen-tipps-anwendung/) - [EN](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know/) - [Request a Demo](https://www.acrolinx.com/request-demo/) [Request a Demo](https://www.acrolinx.com/request-demo/) [Grammar Tips](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/category/grammar-tips/) # Passive vs. Active Voice: What You Need to Know By [The Acrolinx Team](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/author/acrolinx-team/) 3 min read November 7, 2024 ![To illustrate a blog about passive vs. active voice, an image of a microphone stands for active voice.](https://www.acrolinx.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/passive-active-voice-blog.jpg) With linguistic quirks and ambiguities galore, [the English language](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/language-variations-between-us-uk-and-australian-english/) can trip up even the most knowledgeable native speakers. Add writing to the mix, and… well, let’s just say, we’ve all read a poorly written blog post or press release in our day. One common error that people make when writing is [using passive instead of active voice](http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/avoid-this-common-passive-voice-mistake). But what exactly is active voice? And why is it usually preferable to a more passive approach? Let’s take a look. ## Understanding the basics: Active vs. passive voice explained If you’re wondering what the difference is between active and passive voice, your first clue lies in their names themselves. With active voice, the subject (a noun) performs the action expressed by the verb. The direct object receives the action. Steve pushed Mark into the pool. In this example, Steve is the subject and Mark is the direct object (i.e., the target of the action). Ready to brush up on your grammar? [Get the Guide\!](https://www.acrolinx.com/guides/the-grammar-guide-for-busy-people/) ![Dark book cover for the Grammar Guide.](https://www.acrolinx.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Grammar-Guide.png) In passive voice, the direct object gets promoted two pay-grades, and becomes the subject\! Mark was pushed into the pool by Steve. Here, while Mark is now the subject of the sentence, he’s not really doing anything (except having a bad day if he’s wearing a three-piece suit). Instead, he’s passively sitting back, and receiving the action of being pushed into the pool. While it’s not technically incorrect to use passive voice in your writing, we would probably all agree that the first sentence is more exciting, lively, and succinct. In other words, it’s active. While the second sentence tells the same story, it’s wordy, weak, and, frankly, a little flabby. ## When to use passive voice You probably learned in school that you’re supposed to avoid passive voice at all costs. But it actually isn’t technically wrong. In fact, there are times when it makes sense to opt for passive voice over active voice. For example, when: - You legitimately want to bring attention to the receiver of the action, instead of the ones performing the action: “The waiter was pushed into the pool.” - The person performing the action is unknown or unimportant: “A cheeseburger was accidentally dropped into the pool.” - When you want to intentionally avoid identifying the performer of the action: “The fines for damaging the pool will be collected on Monday.” [Passive voice](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/writing-mistakes-our-biggest-content-pet-peeves/) is also regularly used in scientific writing to take the researcher(s) out of the equation. In fiction, it’s used as a way to build tension or downplay actions. Meanwhile, it’s also common in journalism. (As in, “A wave of pool-related incidents was reported at the local country club.”) ## Passive voice checker: What is it? If you’re unsure whether your [tone of voice](https://www.acrolinx.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Acrolinx-Tone-of-Voice-Letter-1.pdf) is correct, a passive voice checker can be a valuable tool for refining your writing. While active voice typically creates clearer, more direct sentences, passive voice has its place in specific contexts, such as scientific writing, formal reports, or situations where the focus is on the action’s receiver. A passive voice checker helps you identify passive constructions in your text, allowing you to decide when to revise for clarity or when passive voice best serves your purpose. By the way, Acrolinx checks for passive voice, but it’s more than a passive voice checker: It’s content governance software\! ## How to write in active voice When it comes to choosing between active and passive voice, keep these three tips in mind: ### 1\. Write for clarity Remember, extra words make reading laborious (something you definitely want to avoid when creating content for your customers) and writing flabby. Use active voice where possible to tighten and tone your content. ### 2\. Think SAT: Subject, action, target Good writers take a couple of stabs at a blog post or article before it’s complete. At the polishing stage, remember SAT — subject, action, target — and edit accordingly where possible. ### 3\. Use the “zombies” test Wait. What? Zombies? Yes, and here’s why. If you’re not sure if a sentence is in active or passive voice, try adding “by zombies” to the end of it. If it makes sense, your sentence is probably passive. For example, “The pool water was fouled (by zombies!)” is a passive sentence. And, if you’ve been following along, you know that it’s also inaccurate. The pool in question was actually fouled by a cheeseburger. Using this trick can help you spot and revise passive sentences to keep your content clear and engaging. ## Elevate your writing: Keep It clear, concise, and active [Simple writing](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/simple-writing-why-it-works-how-to-do-it/) should flow seamlessly, be clear and concise, and be free from unnecessary words or overly long sentences. We hope these tips help keep your writing as active as possible. When you need a hand, a passive-to-active voice converter can be valuable for creating impactful, engaging content. For more grammar tips, check out our [Grammar Guide for Busy People](https://www.acrolinx.com/guides/the-grammar-guide-for-busy-people//). Another resource to explore is Acrolinx! Our [AI content governance software](https://www.acrolinx.com/product//) helps people create content that is more [findable](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/how-to-build-a-more-findable-website-with-mordy-oberstein/), [readable](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/automated-readability-checks-for-clear-enterprise-content/), and enjoyable. By defining your [enterprise content guidelines](https://www.acrolinx.com/enterprise-guidance/), Acrolinx provides [content quality assurance](https://www.acrolinx.com/editorial-assistance/) across more than [50 authoring tools](https://www.acrolinx.com/integrations/), ensuring on-brand content and eliminating unwanted passive voice. ## Are you ready to create more content faster? Schedule a demo to see how content governance and AI guardrails will drastically improve content quality, compliance, and efficiency. [Request a Demo](https://www.acrolinx.com/request-demo/) ![Acrolinx icon.](https://www.acrolinx.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/App-Circle-Icon-180x180-1.webp) The Acrolinx Team ## Continue reading [![](https://www.acrolinx.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/5-characteristics-great-content-blog-1024x532.png)](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/5-characteristics-of-great-content/ "What Makes Content Good? The 5 Characteristics to Know") [Content Creation](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/category/content-creation/)[Content Impact](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/category/content-impact/) ### [What Makes Content Good? The 5 Characteristics to Know](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/5-characteristics-of-great-content/ "What Makes Content Good? The 5 Characteristics to Know") By The Acrolinx Team 4 min read [Read More](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/5-characteristics-of-great-content/) [![What Is Tone of Voice and Why Does It Matter?](https://www.acrolinx.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Tone-of-Voice-blog-1-1024x532.png)](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/what-is-tone-of-voice/ "What Is Tone of Voice and Why Does It Matter?") [Content Guidelines](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/category/content-guidelines/)[Tone of Voice](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/category/tone-of-voice/) ### [What Is Tone of Voice and Why Does It Matter?](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/what-is-tone-of-voice/ "What Is Tone of Voice and Why Does It Matter?") By The Acrolinx Team 4 min read [Read More](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/what-is-tone-of-voice/) [![On a neutral background, blue triangular shapes are shown to symbolize consistent content.](https://www.acrolinx.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Consistent-Content-blog-1024x625.png)](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/marketing-research-consistent-content-important/ "Marketing and Content: The Critical Importance of Consistent Writing Standards") [Content Creation](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/category/content-creation/)[Content Guidelines](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/category/content-guidelines/)[Marketing](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/category/marketing/) ### [Marketing and Content: The Critical Importance of Consistent Writing Standards](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/marketing-research-consistent-content-important/ "Marketing and Content: The Critical Importance of Consistent Writing Standards") By The Acrolinx Team 9 min read [Read More](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/marketing-research-consistent-content-important/) [![Acrolinx content performance scorecard visually showcasing key metrics for evaluating content quality.](https://www.acrolinx.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Content-performance-scorecard-visual-1024x532.png)](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/creating-high-quality-content-importance-performance-scorecards/ "Content Scoring: How to Measure and Improve Content Quality With Performance Scorecards") [Artificial Intelligence](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/category/artificial-intelligence/)[Content Analytics](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/category/content-analytics/)[Content Impact](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/category/content-impact/) ### [Content Scoring: How to Measure and Improve Content Quality With Performance Scorecards](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/creating-high-quality-content-importance-performance-scorecards/ "Content Scoring: How to Measure and Improve Content Quality With Performance Scorecards") By The Acrolinx Team 9 min read [Read More](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/creating-high-quality-content-importance-performance-scorecards/) ![Acrolinx logo](https://www.acrolinx.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/acrolinx-logo.png) ![Rewards badged](https://www.acrolinx.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/acrolinx-rewards.png) Want access to our content before anyone else? 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Readable Markdown	![](https://dc.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=162193&fmt=gif) [Skip to content](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/active-versus-passive-voice-what-you-need-to-know/#fl-main-content) We have some big news. New brand, new product, new us! Acrolinx is now Markup AI. [Learn more.](https://markup.ai/) [![Acrolinx logo](https://www.acrolinx.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/acrolinx-logo.png)](https://www.acrolinx.com/) ## Passive vs. Active Voice: What You Need to Know ![To illustrate a blog about passive vs. active voice, an image of a microphone stands for active voice.](https://www.acrolinx.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/passive-active-voice-blog.jpg) With linguistic quirks and ambiguities galore, [the English language](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/language-variations-between-us-uk-and-australian-english/) can trip up even the most knowledgeable native speakers. Add writing to the mix, and… well, let’s just say, we’ve all read a poorly written blog post or press release in our day. One common error that people make when writing is [using passive instead of active voice](http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/avoid-this-common-passive-voice-mistake). But what exactly is active voice? And why is it usually preferable to a more passive approach? Let’s take a look. ## Understanding the basics: Active vs. passive voice explained If you’re wondering what the difference is between active and passive voice, your first clue lies in their names themselves. With active voice, the subject (a noun) performs the action expressed by the verb. The direct object receives the action. Steve pushed Mark into the pool. In this example, Steve is the subject and Mark is the direct object (i.e., the target of the action). In passive voice, the direct object gets promoted two pay-grades, and becomes the subject\! Mark was pushed into the pool by Steve. Here, while Mark is now the subject of the sentence, he’s not really doing anything (except having a bad day if he’s wearing a three-piece suit). Instead, he’s passively sitting back, and receiving the action of being pushed into the pool. While it’s not technically incorrect to use passive voice in your writing, we would probably all agree that the first sentence is more exciting, lively, and succinct. In other words, it’s active. While the second sentence tells the same story, it’s wordy, weak, and, frankly, a little flabby. ## When to use passive voice You probably learned in school that you’re supposed to avoid passive voice at all costs. But it actually isn’t technically wrong. In fact, there are times when it makes sense to opt for passive voice over active voice. For example, when: - You legitimately want to bring attention to the receiver of the action, instead of the ones performing the action: “The waiter was pushed into the pool.” - The person performing the action is unknown or unimportant: “A cheeseburger was accidentally dropped into the pool.” - When you want to intentionally avoid identifying the performer of the action: “The fines for damaging the pool will be collected on Monday.” [Passive voice](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/writing-mistakes-our-biggest-content-pet-peeves/) is also regularly used in scientific writing to take the researcher(s) out of the equation. In fiction, it’s used as a way to build tension or downplay actions. Meanwhile, it’s also common in journalism. (As in, “A wave of pool-related incidents was reported at the local country club.”) ## Passive voice checker: What is it? If you’re unsure whether your [tone of voice](https://www.acrolinx.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Acrolinx-Tone-of-Voice-Letter-1.pdf) is correct, a passive voice checker can be a valuable tool for refining your writing. While active voice typically creates clearer, more direct sentences, passive voice has its place in specific contexts, such as scientific writing, formal reports, or situations where the focus is on the action’s receiver. A passive voice checker helps you identify passive constructions in your text, allowing you to decide when to revise for clarity or when passive voice best serves your purpose. By the way, Acrolinx checks for passive voice, but it’s more than a passive voice checker: It’s content governance software\! ## How to write in active voice When it comes to choosing between active and passive voice, keep these three tips in mind: ### 1\. Write for clarity Remember, extra words make reading laborious (something you definitely want to avoid when creating content for your customers) and writing flabby. Use active voice where possible to tighten and tone your content. ### 2\. Think SAT: Subject, action, target Good writers take a couple of stabs at a blog post or article before it’s complete. At the polishing stage, remember SAT — subject, action, target — and edit accordingly where possible. ### 3\. Use the “zombies” test Wait. What? Zombies? Yes, and here’s why. If you’re not sure if a sentence is in active or passive voice, try adding “by zombies” to the end of it. If it makes sense, your sentence is probably passive. For example, “The pool water was fouled (by zombies!)” is a passive sentence. And, if you’ve been following along, you know that it’s also inaccurate. The pool in question was actually fouled by a cheeseburger. Using this trick can help you spot and revise passive sentences to keep your content clear and engaging. ## Elevate your writing: Keep It clear, concise, and active [Simple writing](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/simple-writing-why-it-works-how-to-do-it/) should flow seamlessly, be clear and concise, and be free from unnecessary words or overly long sentences. We hope these tips help keep your writing as active as possible. When you need a hand, a passive-to-active voice converter can be valuable for creating impactful, engaging content. For more grammar tips, check out our [Grammar Guide for Busy People](https://www.acrolinx.com/guides/the-grammar-guide-for-busy-people//). Another resource to explore is Acrolinx! Our [AI content governance software](https://www.acrolinx.com/product//) helps people create content that is more [findable](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/how-to-build-a-more-findable-website-with-mordy-oberstein/), [readable](https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/automated-readability-checks-for-clear-enterprise-content/), and enjoyable. By defining your [enterprise content guidelines](https://www.acrolinx.com/enterprise-guidance/), Acrolinx provides [content quality assurance](https://www.acrolinx.com/editorial-assistance/) across more than [50 authoring tools](https://www.acrolinx.com/integrations/), ensuring on-brand content and eliminating unwanted passive voice. ## Are you ready to create more content faster? Schedule a demo to see how content governance and AI guardrails will drastically improve content quality, compliance, and efficiency. ![Acrolinx icon.](https://www.acrolinx.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/App-Circle-Icon-180x180-1.webp) The Acrolinx Team ## Continue reading [![](https://acrolinxdev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/learn-more-markupai.png)](https://markup.ai/)
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