The Terror of Voice I like order. I love the comfort of a beautiful and functional Excel spreadsheet. I organize my CDs by genre and then alphabetically by artist. I eat three meals a day. But my love of order sometimes butts heads with my love of writing. That’s because no matter how much attention I pay to following the rules of writing, I know that to produce writing that astounds readers—moving them, making them gasp, enticing them—I’ll have to include more than just correct writing. I’ll need to find a way...
“Active voice” refers to the relationship between the subject and the verb of a sentence. In an active sentence, the subject carries out the action of the verb, i.e., “Joseph (subject) ate (verb) the burrito.” In passive sentences, however, the subject no longer acts but is acted upon by the verb: "The burrito was eaten (verb) by Joseph (subject)" or "The burrito was eaten" (if the subject is unknown). Below are some more examples. Note that in these examples, the sentences become shorter and more specific because active writing forces...
Voice, Tone, and Persona are interrelated concepts. In some instances, these terms can be used interchangeably, yet important differences do exist. Voice Voice in writing is a nuanced interplay of stylistic and rhetorical elements. Specifically, it encompasses: Stance and Persona:This reflects the position a writer adopts towards their subject and audience, providing a lens through which they engage with their topic. Idiosyncratic Expression:Every writer has a distinct way of conveying ideas, which sets their work apart and lends it a unique flavor. Strategic Crafting:Writers don’t just express; they craft. They...
In general, you can make your writing more persuasive, clear, and concise by using the active voice rather than the passive voice. There are instances, however, when the passive voice is preferable to the active voice, as discussed below. What are the Active and Passive Voices? Essentially, a verb is active when its subject performs the action. A verb is passive when its subject is acted upon by an outside agent rather than doing the action. You can identify passive voice by finding a sentence that uses some form of...
