Passive Voice

Definition

Passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of a sentence is acted upon by the verb, rather than performing the action. This structure often emphasizes the action itself or the receiver of the action, rather than who or what is performing it. In public relations writing, using passive voice can affect clarity and engagement, making it important to understand when it might be appropriate to use it.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. In passive voice constructions, the object of an action becomes the subject of the sentence, which can obscure who is responsible for the action.
2. While passive voice can be useful for focusing on the result of an action, excessive use can lead to vague or convoluted writing.
3. Many professional writers in public relations prefer active voice because it typically results in stronger, clearer, and more engaging prose.
4. Certain contexts, like formal reports or scientific writing, may favor passive voice to maintain objectivity or to emphasize results over the researcher.
5. A simple way to recognize passive voice is by looking for forms of 'to be' (like is, was, or are) followed by a past participle (like done, seen, or created).

Review Questions

• How does the use of passive voice influence clarity and engagement in public relations writing?
  • Using passive voice can sometimes make writing less clear because it can obscure who is doing the action. In public relations writing, clarity is essential to effectively communicate messages to the audience. While passive constructions can occasionally be used to emphasize results or actions over the actor, relying too much on this structure can disengage readers and dilute the intended message.
• In what situations might passive voice be more appropriate than active voice in public relations documents?
  • Passive voice may be more suitable in formal reports, technical documents, or scientific writing where focusing on results or processes is more important than highlighting the doer. For instance, when announcing findings from research, saying 'The experiment was conducted' emphasizes the experiment itself rather than who conducted it. In these cases, maintaining a level of objectivity and neutrality can strengthen the overall communication.
• Evaluate how understanding both passive and active voice can enhance a writer's effectiveness in public relations.
  • Grasping both passive and active voice allows writers to strategically choose how they present information based on their audience and objectives. By effectively balancing these voices, a writer can enhance clarity when needed while also utilizing passive constructions to shift focus when appropriate. This skill enables a PR professional to tailor their messages for maximum impact and engagement, ensuring that key points resonate with their audience while maintaining clear communication.

Related terms

Active Voice: A grammatical construction where the subject of the sentence performs the action of the verb, making the writing clearer and more direct.

Sentence Structure: The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences, which can significantly impact clarity and reader engagement.

Conciseness: The quality of being brief and to the point in writing, which is often compromised when using passive voice excessively.