Certainly! Here’s a breakdown of the use cases for passive voice and active voice in various writing scenarios:
1. To Emphasize an Action
- Passive Voice: "The project was completed ahead of schedule."
- Active Voice: "The team completed the project ahead of schedule."
2. To Write Clear, Concise Sentences
- Passive Voice: "The results were reviewed by the committee."
- Active Voice: "The committee reviewed the results."
3. To Tell About Rules or Laws
- Passive Voice: "Seat belts must be worn by all passengers."
- Active Voice: "All passengers must wear seat belts."
4. To Explain an Action When the Subject is Unknown
- Passive Voice: "The documents were misplaced."
- Active Voice: (Not applicable since the subject is unknown)
5. To Emphasize Who is Responsible for Something
- Passive Voice: "The error was made by the technician."
- Active Voice: "The technician made the error."
6. To Avoid Responsibility
- Passive Voice: "Mistakes were made."
- Active Voice: "We made mistakes."
Summary
- Passive voice is often used when the focus is on the action itself, when the doer is unknown, or when downplaying responsibility.
- Active voice is preferred for clarity, directness, and when it's important to highlight who is responsible for an action.
By selecting the appropriate voice based on your writing objectives, you can effectively communicate your message.