09 02 active and passive voice

Active and Passive Voice


Active and Passive Voice

—  Emphasis
¡  “The most influential op-ed in 2013 was written by Mueller.”
¡  “Mueller wrote the most influential op-ed in 2013.”
—  Disciplinary Context


Making Choices

—  Active Voice:
¡  Atkin argues that graphic representations help shape our
understanding of ideas.
—  Passive Voice:
¡  It was argued by Atkin that graphic representations help shape
our understanding of ideas.


Making Choices

—  Active Voice:
¡  Atkin, Comer, Erol, Font, Vidra, 18 graduate students, and 12
undergraduates, all from Duke, conducted the study.
—  Passive Voice:
¡  The study was conducted by a team of researchers from Duke.