Question

What are some of the benefits of using the active voice? (Choose every correct answer.)
It emphasizes action, which is a key element in business.
It sounds less bossy than the passive voice.
The reader can understand it more quickly.
Usually the sentence will be shorter

Answer 1

Correct answers:
- It emphasizes action, which is a key element in business.
- The reader can understand it more quickly.
- Usually the sentence will be shorter.

Why: Active voice names the actor and the action, so it's clearer, often shorter (no auxiliary + "by…" phrase), and emphasizes action. The second option is incorrect — active voice is typically more direct and can sound firmer or bossier than passive, which is the construction that usually softens tone. Example:
- Active: "The team completed the report." (clear, short)
- Passive: "The report was completed by the team." (longer, less direct)