Sometimes writers allow the bottom line to creep into their work, weakening their writing as a result. For a first-time author looking to publish, this could be enough to send their work to the dump. This could rob the student of the + grade that their content would otherwise have earned.
These are just some of the problems you will face if you use the passive voice in your writing. Today we’ll show you some tips on how to fix this so you can create a sketch that’s cleaner and more impactful.
low on passive
Why all this talk about the passive? How bad is it really? To be fair, it’s not that bad, but it’s not that great either. The passive voice can make sentences sound lackluster and prevent all work from reaching its true potential; not exactly a combination that gets publisher approval.
This is why writers who want their stuff bought and published should use the best passive voice controls. This means using online editing tools, working with experienced editors, and arming yourself with an eye for misuse of the passive voice.
When editing your article, pay special attention to stative or linking verbs. Here you can see the misuse of the passive voice. The word “for” also often indicates an error.
Fixed passives and other common bugs
Publishers cannot be expected to do everything. Protecting your work also requires effort on your part to catch passive voice and other stylistic and grammatical errors.
1. Get rid of weak verbs.
Knowing how to fix the passive helps you write sentences that are more powerful. You can start by replacing weak, definite verbs with more expressive ones, rich in nuance. One of the indicators of the misuse of verbs is the use of the word “very”. Certainly, there are more descriptive and concise verbal alternatives than those modified by this adverb.
2. Eliminate unintended redundancy.
Yes, repetition is sometimes necessary when trying to make a point. However, here we are specifically talking about tautology or unnecessary repetition.
The more you practice writing short, the more avoiding tautology becomes second nature. You will simply be trained to construct sentences in the most direct way where no word is decorative.
3. Avoid using fake tips.
The pressure to increase the number of words does not justify the presence of false extremities. Unless you’re writing an academic paper, you’ll want to keep these laconic phrases to a minimum.
Phrases like “at this point in history” or “in view of” may sound good when spoken, but they hardly do anything in writing except make sentences full of mouthfuls. Keep your sentences short and to the point by refusing to include false limbs in them.
4. Put an adjective before your noun.
You’re probably no stranger to writing this sentence: “He was brash, cold, and blind to his feelings.” Needless to say, it wasn’t the first or last time you wrote a dead verb as an antecedent of an adjective or even a group of adjectives. The temptation to do so can sometimes be too strong.
However, it would be better to structure the sentence like this: “A cold, cold and inconsiderate young man did not listen to the love of the young woman.”
5. Change the order of the words in your sentence.
Changing from passive to active sometimes is all in the order of the sentence. Just restructure your sentence so that the subject is spoken at the beginning of the sentence. That should rid you of the annoying liability.
6. Cut off the passive that is not used for the effect.
Remember how we said that using the passive when writing isn’t so bad? Well, using them for “effect” is one of those times.
Each of us has a unique writing style that affects the way we tell stories and structure sentences. So, strange as the choice to use the passive in some sentences may be, it may simply be what the writer’s particular type of narration calls for.
Beyond that though, you want to stick to the active voice. This writing style allows you to capture scenes or events with clearer detail and more emotion.
7. Reduce the word.
There are several styles, apart from the fake tips, that contribute to the word. Words or verbiage often confuse the meaning of sentences and leave them open to interpretation.
In general, writers don’t want readers to confuse their message with something else. So while verbosity isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it can make a piece less impressive. Of course, deliberate talk is another story. Writers can use this to bring certain captivating elements to their prose.
Why fix the passive?
Clear and specific writing is what resonates with readers. Take your writing to this level by revising dead verbs during revision. These seven tips should eliminate almost all of them.
Also Read – Tips for Writing Essays for an A Grade
Zayn Tindall
Zayn currently works as an English teacher at one of the reputed universities in New York. He even worked as a career counselor for the last 5 years. Zayn likes to spend his spare time reading educational books, novels, and writing educational blogs and articles. Professionalism
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Categories: How to
Source: HIS Education