decide whether each describes a reason to use passive or active voice

Question

to emphasize an action
to write clear concise sentences
to tell about rules or laws
to explain an action when the subject is unknown
to emphasize who is responsible for something
to avoid responsibility

Answer 1

Here’s a breakdown of each item and whether it aligns with passive or active voice usage:

1. To emphasize an action - Passive Voice (focuses on the action itself rather than who performed it)
2. To write clear concise sentences - Active Voice (typically results in clearer and more direct sentences)
3. To tell about rules or laws - Passive Voice (often appropriate for stating rules, e.g., "The law is enforced...")
4. To explain an action when the subject is unknown - Passive Voice (useful when you don't know or don't want to specify the doer)
5. To emphasize who is responsible for something - Active Voice (focuses on the subject performing the action)
6. To avoid responsibility - Passive Voice (can obscure who is responsible for the action)

In summary:

• Passive voice is used for emphasizing the action, discussing rules/laws, explaining unknown subjects, and avoiding responsibility.
• Active voice is used for writing clearly and emphasizing who is responsible.