[stylist] the passive voice

[loristay at aol.com]

The easiest way to demonstrate the passive voice is to examine the use of verbs.
Active voice includes action verbs.  Passive voice includes verbs such as were, was, are, had been etc.  Non transitive verbs, that is, verbs that don't take objects. (Forgive me,  I used to be an English teacher)



Passive example:



After my hospital stay, I was home.




Active example:


After my hospital stay, I drove home.  


Passive example:


Charlie was there, now that he was home.


Active example:


Charlie lived home.




Questions?
Lori






-----Original Message-----
From: Julie J. <julielj at neb.rr.com>
To: Writer's Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wed, Apr 11, 2012 10:49 am
Subject: [stylist] the passive voice


Hello all!

I don't write to this list much.  So if you've forgotten me, I'm Julie 
and I'm working on writing a nonfiction book.  I have no background in 
writing.  I've never written a book before.  At the rate I'm going I 
don't know if I will write another one!

Anyway, this morning after snapping out of my zombie state induced by 
staring at the blank screen of doom, I decided to procrastinate by 
messing on the internet.  I stumbled across a blog post on writing style 
that mentioned to avoid the passive voice.  I looked up some other info 
on it, but I'm still not sure that I understand.  However I think a load 
of my writing is in the passive voice.

So I'm asking you my most knowledgeable writing friends, please help me 
with this. I need to understand what exactly the passive voice is, how 
to avoid it or fix it and if there is any situation where it is appropriate.

Thanks!
Julie




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