| Do you want to learn how to write in the active | | | | 2. Birmingham was the city where Natalie grew up. |
| voice, but don't want to be bombarded with boring, | | | | 3. The Joshua Tree was recorded by U2 in 1986. |
| hard to remember stuff about action verbs, | | | | 4. My arms were covered with elaborate tattoos. |
| intransitive verbs and direct objects? OK. Then this | | | | 5. Countless artists were influenced by Vermeer's |
| article is for you! | | | | style. |
| Below, you will find a simple exercise that will get you | | | | 6. It is easy to learn French compared to learning |
| thinking and then writing in the active voice. So that | | | | many other languages. |
| active voice writing becomes second nature, the | | | | 7. It was through writing her novel Lucky that Alice |
| article places most emphasis upon learning through | | | | Sebold first gained fame. |
| repetition. Above all, you'll learn that active voice | | | | 8. The judge dismissed the case. |
| writing is a frame of mind. Adopt that mindset each | | | | 9. In the first travel brochure I picked up I found the |
| time you write and, in time, you'll become an active | | | | best information about Ireland. |
| writer by instinct. | | | | 10. The reluctance by waste disposal companies to |
| Here we go then: | | | | work over Christmas is something that local residents |
| Which of these two sentences do you think is more | | | | can't stand. |
| concise? | | | | (Answers at foot of article) |
| 1. The piano player played my favourite song. | | | | How Active Voice Writing Can Make You Money |
| Or | | | | For online writers, being able to write in the active |
| 2. My favourite song was played by the piano player. | | | | voice is essential. Web site pages, blog posts, articles, |
| Gotta be the first one (written in the active voice), | | | | product descriptions, online press releases. All these |
| don't you think? The writing somehow moves | | | | require write short, gusty sentences. Active voice |
| forward more, whereas in sentence 2 (written in the | | | | writing is exactly that. |
| passive voice) the information feels like it is being | | | | Practice, Practice, Practice... |
| conveyed in reverse. Sentence 1 also feels smoother, | | | | Why not take a piece of existing online writing and |
| clearer... It is quicker to read and requires less effort. | | | | see if you can recognise sentences (or even |
| 'Warning' words | | | | headings, subheadings etc.) that may need some |
| Be vigilant for sentences with 'was' or 'that' in them - | | | | magic active voice dust sprinkled in them? |
| passive writing indicators! | | | | Good luck with getting active. |
| My best shirt was ironed first for me by my wife. | | | | Answers to exercises: |
| To become: | | | | 1. The teacher read The Grapes of Wrath. |
| My wife ironed my best shirt first. | | | | 2. Natalie grew up in Birmingham. |
| The car that was red came first in the race. | | | | 3. U2 recorded The Joshua Tree in 1986. |
| To become: | | | | 4. Elaborate tattoos covered my arms. |
| The red car won the race. | | | | 5. Vermeer influenced countless artists. |
| Active Voice Writing Exercise | | | | 6. Compared to learning other languages, French is |
| Grab some fresh paper and have a go at rewriting | | | | easy. |
| the following 10 (passive voice) sentences in the | | | | 7. Alice Sebold first gained fame after writing Lucky. |
| active voice. As you do so, imagine you are in a rush | | | | 8. The case was dismissed. |
| and need to convey the info as quickly and succinctly | | | | 9. The best information about Ireland was in the first |
| as possible to someone on the other end of a phone. | | | | travel brochure. |
| You must run! You've got a train to catch! There isn't | | | | 10. Local residents can't stand waste disposal |
| time for any long-winded flowery stuff! | | | | companies' reluctance to work over Christmas. |
| 1. The Grapes of Wrath was read by the teacher. | | | | |