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The Passive Voice in Academic Writing
Active Voice vs. Passive Voice
When writing, we have the option to construct sentences using the active or the passive voice.
The difference between active voice and passive voice is to do with the relationship of the
subject of a sentence to the verb.
Here’s a sentence using active voice:
The researchers wrote the paper.
In active voice, the subject of the sentence (the researchers) carried out the action or verb
(wrote). The object of the sentence (the paper) is the thing being acted on i.e. the paper was
produced as a result of the researchers’ writing.
Here are the same elements used to construct a sentence in the passive voice:
The paper was written by the researchers.
In passive voice, the subject (the paper) does not have an active relationship to the verb (was
written) i.e. the paper did not do the writing, but was written by someone else. The subject
of this sentence is the thing begin acted on. The person/thing that carried out the verb (the
researchers) is indicated by the preposition “by”.
Recognising the Passive Voice
Passive voice can be easily recognised by the use of “by + someone” or “by + something”.
Furthermore, it always uses some tense of the verb “to be” + the past participle of the verb
in question. Here’s a few more examples:
The markets are influenced by political changes.
Teachers will be affected by the changes to the curriculum.
Changes in the DNA were observed by the scientists.
In each case, the sentence subject (the markets, teachers, changes in the DNA) has an indirect
or passive relationship to the verb. The subject did not carry out the verb. Also, each sentence
contains by + something/someone (political changes, changes to the curriculum, scientists).
They all use some form of the verb “to be” (are, will be, were) with a past participle
(influenced, affected, observed).
HOWEVER
Not all uses of the passive voice will include the “by +” part of the sentence. In the final
example above, “by the scientists” is not necessary for the sentence to make sense. It is
possible to write simply:
Changes in the DNA were observed.
This is still in passive voice as the subject (changes in the DNA) does not have a direct
relationship to the verb (were observed). We still have the option to add “by the scientists”.
DCU Writing Centre
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When to Use the Passive Voice in Academic Writing
The passive voice can be useful in academic writing in the following ways:
1. To avoid the first person
I will discuss Kant’s philosophical Kant’s philosophical theories will be
theories in this essay. (active) discussed in this essay. (passive)
2. In scientific writing
The scientists added reagent to Reagent was added to the sample.
the sample. (active) (passive)
3. To emphasise the thing being acted on
Developers launched Google Google Translate was launched in 2006.
Translate in 2006. (active) (passive)
4. When the person/thing carrying out the action is not known or unclear
Someone ambushed the troops at The troops were ambushed at night.
night. (active) (passive)
When to Avoid the Passive Voice in Academic Writing
You should avoid overusing the passive voice. It can be helpful in the above situations but can
also lead to problems in your essay. Below are common examples of times when students use
the passive voice inappropriately.
1. When the student has not done enough research
Studies have been conducted on the Issues: Who conducted these studies?
importance of exercise. Why are the names of the studies not
listed here?
2. When the point is unclear or confusing
Both DCU and UCD applied for the Issues: Who was granted the patent?
patent in 2012. It was granted the Did they both receive it?
following year.
3. When the sentence becomes wordy and unnecessarily complex
The research which had been Issues: Sentence doesn’t flow and is
undertaken by the university was awkward. The use of three passive
critiqued from an ethical point of view structures makes the sentence wordy.
and was promptly retracted by them.
DCU Writing Centre
