English
Guidelines for Using Active and Passive Voice

• Voice is that property of verbs that shows whether the subject of the verb acts or is acted upon. Active-voice verbs direct action from the subject toward the object of the verb. Passive-voice verbs direct action toward the subject
  
  Active voice: Our students write excellent essays.
  
  Passive voice: Excellent essays are written by our employees.
  
  
• Academic and business writing that emphasizes active-voice verbs is generally preferred because it is specific and forceful; eg., The personnel manager sent a list of payroll deductions to our employees. However, passive-voice constructions can help a writer be tactful; eg., A list of payroll deductions was sent to our employees.