Concept 6

Use active vs passive voice strategically for clarity and emphasis.

Use active voice when it makes the doer and action clearer.

Core Idea

Active voice is usually clearer because it names who is doing the action. Passive voice only helps when the actor is unknown or less important.

Understanding

Rule: ACT does not ban passive voice, but it often prefers active voice when a sentence becomes clearer and more direct that way. If the passage wants to highlight the doer, active voice is usually the better choice.

Keep passive voice only when the sentence needs to emphasize the receiver of the action or when the actor does not matter.

Step by Step

  1. See who is doing the action.
  2. If the actor is known and important, prefer active voice.
  3. Keep passive voice only when the actor is unknown or the sentence needs the receiver of the action.

Misconceptions

  • Passive voice is not always wrong. It is wrong when it makes the sentence weaker or less clear than an active option.
  • Do not switch to active voice if it changes the passage emphasis in an important way.
Question

Worked Example

The final mural was painted by students from the art club. Which revision is most direct?

Select an answer to see the explanation