how to write active voice essay

Use the active voice

Generally, try to use the active voice whenever possible. Passive voice sentences often use more words, can be vague, and can lead to a tangle of prepositional phrases.

Active vs. passive voice

In a sentence written in the active voice, the subject of sentence performs the action. In a sentence written in the passive voice, the subject receives the action.

Active: The candidate believes that Congress must place a ceiling on the budget. Passive: It is believed by the candidate that a ceiling must be placed on the budget by Congress. Active: Researchers earlier showed that high stress can cause heart attacks. Passive: It was earlier demonstrated that heart attacks can be caused by high stress. Active: The dog bit the man. Passive: The man was bitten by the dog.

Converting sentences to active voice

Here are some tips and strategies for converting sentences from the passive to the active voice.

• Look for a “by” phrase (e.g., “by the dog” in the last example above). If you find one, the sentence may be in the passive voice. Rewrite the sentence so that the subject buried in the “by” clause is closer to the beginning of the sentence.
• If the subject of the sentence is somewhat anonymous, see if you can use a general term, such as “researchers,” or “the study,” or “experts in this field.”

When to use passive voice

There are sometimes good reasons to use the passive voice.

To emphasize the action rather than the actor

After long debate, the proposal was endorsed by the long-range planning committee.

To keep the subject and focus consistent throughout a passage

The data processing department recently presented what proved to be a controversial proposal to expand its staff. After long debate, the proposal was endorsed by . . . .

To be tactful by not naming the actor

The procedures were somehow misinterpreted.

To describe a condition in which the actor is unknown or unimportant

Every year, thousands of people are diagnosed as having cancer.

To create an authoritative tone

Visitors are not allowed after 9:00 p.m.

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Active Voice vs Passive Voice in Essay Writing: What's the Difference?

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Every type of writing, spanning academic assignments, research proposals, movie or book reviews, newspaper articles, technical or scientific writing, and more, requires a verb in the sentence to express an action being taken.

Essentially, we know that there are two types of voices in writing – active voice vs. passive voice. Both voices have a different sentence structure, length, purpose, and tone of writing.

Now when you analyze your writing, you would be able to find specific sentences that pop out and leave a mark on the reader while some sentences remain bland and unengaging.

This will determine your active voice sentences and your passive voice sentences.

You think to yourself, “how do I choose the right voice for my writing?”

What is Active Voice in Essay Writing

In a sentence, the active voice is used when the subject or person in this specific sentence is the one who is carrying out an action that was represented by the verb. The subject is always a noun or a pronoun and this voice is used to express information in a stronger, more direct, clear, and easier-to-read way than passive voice sentences.

Active voice highlights a logical flow to your sentences and makes your writing feel alive and current – which is pivotal to use in your formal academic writing assignments to get top-scoring grades.

What is Passive Voice in Essay Writing

The passive voice, in a sentence, is used to emphasize the action taken place by the subject according to the verb. In this, the passive phrase always contains a conjugated form of ‘to be’ and the past participle of the main verb.

Due to this, passive sentences also include prepositions, which makes them longer and wordier than active voice sentences.

Active Voice vs. Passive Voice

Now, let us understand the difference between active voice vs. passive voice in writing.

The choice between using active voice vs. passive voice in writing always comes down to the requirements that are suitable for the type of sentences you choose to write.

For most of the writing that you do, be it blogs, emails, different types of academic essays, and more, an active voice is ideal to use for communicating and expressing your thoughts, facts, and ideas more clearly and efficiently. This way, your essay papers or other academic assessments stand out amongst the rest.

Use your judgment to write in an active voice if accuracy is not an important aspect, and always keep your readers in mind. In this case, academic writing teachers - ranging from middle school to college/universities, prefer reading your assignments in an active voice as it makes your arguments, thoughts, and sentence structures confident, brief, and compelling.

However, there are a few exceptions to using passive voice

• If the reader is aware of the subject;
• In expository writing (where the primary goal is to provide an explanation or a context);
• Crime reports, data analysis;
• Scientific and technical writing.

Passive voice is majorly used while writing assignments that direct the reader's focus onto the specific action taking place rather than the subject. It is also used when you need an authoritative tone, like on a banner or a sign on a bulletin board.

Passive voice is ideally used when the person involved in the action is not known and/or is insignificant. Similarly, if you are writing something that requires you to be objective with its solution and analysis – like a research paper, lab report , or newspaper article – using passive voice should be your go-to choice. This allows you to avoid personal pronouns, which in turn, helps you present your analysis or information in an unbiased and coherent way.

However, if your writing is meant to engage your target audience, such as a novel, then writing your sentences with a passive voice will not only flatten your content and make your writing clumsy to read, but your paper would also inherit all the extra words that would make your write-ups vague and too wordy.

2. Examples of active and passive voice

Every active voice sentence contains a form of action that is taking place by the subject. An interesting fact is that they can be written in any tense – past tense, present tense, past perfect tense, future tense, and more.

An active voice always emits a sense of agency and strength in your writing.

Here are some examples of active voice sentence structuring

• Kaitlyn worked on her upcoming novel all day long.
• Our professor will reveal this week’s surprise assignment.
• The police know that the accused is a flight risk.
• A baby monkey bit Sasha on her leg.
• I presented my research thesis to the class.
• Malek proposed the methods & principles by which each product could be analyzed.
• We will ride a train to go to Switzerland.
• I conducted a study of criminal psychology.
• The gardener was planting the Hydrangeas.

Whereas passive voice sentence structures are lengthier in words and are used when the subject or person is the recipient of an action. Passive voice in writing often conveys subtlety, submissiveness, and lack of engagement.

Moreover, just like active sentences, passive sentence structures do not need to be dependent on the verb, as they can occur in the past tense, the future tense, the subjunctive, etc.

Here are some examples of passive-voice sentences

• Our professor drove us to Universal Studios.
• Clara was persuaded to move to Toronto.
• Jack was given two choices for the presentation topic.
• The jobs were given to two people who had no experience in writing.
• An old bike and a gun were found in the toolshed.
• The moon was walked by Neil Armstrong.
• The candy was eaten by the lady in yellow.
• Ballet dancing is a beloved activity in our class.
• The concert will be enjoyed by us tomorrow.
• Some new books were bought by me.

3. Changing passive voice to active voice

Unless you’re required to use passive voice, it is always beneficial to use active voice in your writing. That’s why overusing and misusing passive sentences can make your writing look sloppy, wordy and non-informative and you may even end up with more grammatical errors.

Here are a few ways to change your passive sentence into an active sentence

a. Identify the passive voice

In writing, the writer should choose their verb tenses, word choice, and tonality of the content very carefully.

As you finish your draft, re-read it to identify sentences that could have been more concise, or framed in a better way to improve its readability. Ask yourself what the action of the specific sentence, who is perpetrating this action is.

That is your passive voice.

Passive voice or tone consists of a past, past participle or future tense and generally the auxiliary word ‘to be’ is an indication of a passive sentence. It always refers to action not being addressed directly.

b. Remove the auxiliary verb

It's best to remove the auxiliary verb from your sentences to change it into active voice sentences by adjusting the tense of the main verb. Generally, the tense of the main verb is in the past tense.

So, determine the correct tense and use it in your verb to create an active sentence. This in turn delivers your writing in a more clear, strong, concise and urgent way.

Here’s an interesting video by mmmEnglish that explains what auxiliary verbs are.

c. Change the subject of the sentence

The main difference between active voice and passive voice is that one performs a verb and the other is a recipient of an action.

For example, in a passive sentence, “The novel was drafted by the writer”, the ‘novel’ is the subject which had been actioned by the writer.

To change it into an active voice, restructure the verb that is taking place (drafted by the writer) with the subject (novel), thus structuring “The writer drafted the novel”.

Once you have mastered the technique of identifying the voice and tonality, you will discover the ease with which your communication takes on different textures, depending upon the context at hand. While the active voice remains the direct form of communication and has more mass appeal, it is the passive voice that assumes a less biased and more objective tone.

Make sure to embellish your written expression with the right voice and give it the power and authority it deserves. We hope the tips and suggestions given above will go a long way in giving weightage to every sentence that you write and strike the right chord with readers.

When you work with Writers Per Hour, you’ll be happy to know that our professional team of writers knows when to use active and passive voice correctly, which works best for the type of paper.

If you’re running short of time or are not confident about your English writing skills, reach out to us, and we’ll ensure you receive nothing short of professionally written, high-quality papers.

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What is Active Voice? Definition, Examples of Active Sentences in Writing

Home » The Writer’s Dictionary » What is Active Voice? Definition, Examples of Active Sentences in Writing

Active voice definition: The active voice is a style of writing where the subject completes the action of the sentence.

What is Active Voice in Writing?

What does active voice mean? In the active voice, the subject always “does” the action of the sentence. Chronologically, the subject will come before the verb in the sentence.

Most writing occurs in the active writing voice, as it is generally clearer and more concise.

Examples of Active Voice:

• Lexi mows the lawn.
• Corinne makes pancakes every Sunday.

In each of these sentences, the subject comes before the verb and object . The subject is “doing” the verb in the sentence. This is called the active voice.

• Lexi>mows
• Corinne>makes

How to Form the Active Voice

Whether or not the subject is the first word of the sentence, active voice is used if the subject “does” the verb.

How to Write in Active Voice:

• I>walked

In each of these sentences, the subject is “I.” “I” is doing the action “walked.” “I” chronologically comes before the verb, walked.

How To Form an Active Voice Sentence:

• Start with a subject.
• Add a verb (after the subject).
• Add any modifiers.

Active Voice Example:

• Grandpa>arrived
• Yesterday, Grandpa arrived at our house.

Active vs. Passive Voice: What’s the Difference?

The active voice occurs when the subject “does” the action of the sentence.

The passive voice occurs when the action is done by what seems like it should be the object.

Passive Voice Example:

• The book was written by Jeanette Walls.

It seems like Jeanette Walls should be the subject.

• Jeanette Walls wrote the book.

However, book , which should be the direct object, is actually the subject of the sentence. A good key indicator for passive voice is a “to be” verb and past participle.

Active Voice vs. Passive Voice:

• Jeannette Walls wrote the book. (active)
• The book was written by Jeanette Walls. (passive)

Should You Avoid Passive Sentences?

The active voice is used more often in writing. However, the passive voice may also be used for stylistic purposes. Furthermore, some phrasings (like “the book was written by”) are more common or acceptable in the passive voice than in the active voice.

Writing in the active voice is more concise, clear, and direct than the passive voice.

It should be noted that strictly writing in the passive voice is not acceptable. Writers who use the passive voice do so intentionally to communicate their purpose.

Active Sentence Examples

Active Example:

• Pete Wilson cut more than $1.9 billion from the 1998-99 budget approved by the Legislature. – The Sacramento Bee

Here’s how it would look as a passive sentence,

• More than $1.9 billion was cut by Pete Wilson from the 1998-99 budget, which was approved by the Legislature.
• Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton ran the ball in for a third-quarter touchdown and did some dances that predate his existence on the planet by a couple of decades. – The Washington Post

Let’s take a look at that as a passive sentence,

• The ball was ran in for a third-quarter touchdown by Cam Newton, who did some dances that predate his existence on the planet by a couple of decades.

In many cases, active sentences are a better option in writing—especially news writing. The first example is especially clumsy written in the passive voice.

Exercises with Passive and Active Voice

• The chicken crossed the road.
• The role of Julius Caesar was acted by Orson Welles.
• My favorite song is sung by Whitney Houston.
• My dad purchased wood to build a new pergola for our backyard.
• The shoes were made in Spain.

Summary: What is an Active Voice?

Define active voice: the definition of active voice is when the subject performs the verb of a sentence .

The active voice is the most common type of writing. It occurs when the subject comes chronologically before the verb and the subject is the thing “doing” the action of the sentence. In active sentences, there is little confusion about which words are the subject, verb, and object.

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Writing Skills  - Active vs. Passive Voice in Your Writing

Writing skills  -, active vs. passive voice in your writing, writing skills active vs. passive voice in your writing.

Writing Skills: Active vs. Passive Voice in Your Writing

Lesson 5: active vs. passive voice in your writing.

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Active vs. passive voice in your writing

Have you ever noticed how some parts of your writing seem to pop, while other parts don't? You can improve those dull sentences if you take a moment to consider the active and passive voices.

Learn more about the differences between active and passive voice in the video below.

The difference between active and passive

There are two voices in writing: Active and passive. In the active voice, the subject of a  sentence acts, like "Neil Armstrong walked on the moon." The active voice is direct, clear, and easy to read.

With the passive voice, the subject is acted upon, like "The moon was walked on by Neil Armstrong". Although the passive voice is still grammatically correct, it typically doesn't carry the same energy or clarity as the active voice. Its structure can feel clumsy and unnatural, which makes your writing harder to read. It also tends to use more words than the active voice. Over the course of a document, all those extra words can make your writing drag.

Overall, we recommend using the active voice more often than the passive. This will help keep your writing snappy and efficient.

Identifying the passive voice

Here's how to spot the passive voice:  

First, look for a phrase like "was visited", "has been cleaned", or "will be built".  Each one contains a "to be" verb , like "was", "has been", or "will be". 

That phrase is followed by an action that's already happened , like "visited", "cleaned", or "built".  Finally, the person or thing doing the action comes last , if they're mentioned at all. 

If you see these parts together, there's a good chance the sentence is in passive voice .

Changing passive into active

Let's change a sentence from passive into active voice.

Our sentence is, "The money was tossed into the air by Jacob". "Jacob" is our subject, and "tossed" is the verb. Move Jacob to the beginning of the sentence, cut out any unnecessary words, and rearrange a few others. Our passive example is now, "Jacob tossed the money into the air". The delivery is more brief, clear, and more immediate.

When passive is best

Although active voice is incredibly useful, the passive voice is occasionally the better choice. For instance, you may go passive if the actor of a sentence is unknown or irrelevant, like in the sentence, "The amendments will be approved after a discussion". In this case, we're interested in the amendments' approval, not who approved them.

Passive voice is also great for creating an authoritative tone , like on a sign requiring employees to wash their hands. It doesn't matter who requires employees to wash up; they just need to do it!

You may also want to go passive when you don't know who is responsible for the action , like in this example: "The mystery was never solved." 

The voice you use can make a big difference in your writing. The active voice will often add pep and clarity, but occasionally the passive voice will be your best option. Take some time to choose the voice that fits best, and your writing will almost certainly grow stronger.

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Active and Passive Voice

Active voice is when the subject is doing the action or existing as the status.  Here are two examples:

Martese plants flowers in the spring. (Martese is doing the action.) Jade is tall. (Jade is existing in a particular status.)

Generally, we speak and write in active voice which is considered more clear and direct.

Passive voice is when the sentence is phrased so that something is being done to the subject. Here is an example:

The ring was placed on the table. (The action is happening to the subject.)

Passive voice is appropriately used when the purpose of the sentence is what was done to the subject and not the action of the subject.

Point of View/Person

Whether we are writing or speaking, we use language from a point of view – our own personal perspective.  As a literary tool, however, point of view is not exactly the same as perspective.  A writer may alter point of view and speak from another perspective, such as the reader’s or listener’s point of view, or from a bystander’s or third person’s point of view in addition to our own.

Consequently, there are said to be three  persons  in writing:

First person  – I, w, me, use, my, our

Second person  – you, your including omitted (understood) you sentences where the subject you is dropped such as in commands or instructions

Third person  – he, she, it, they, him, her, them, his, hers, theirs or any noun such as people, society, parents, society, students, teachers

When we speak, we use person informally.  We frequently use first person I and second person you and we shift between all three voices.  When we write, we have to be consistent and specific. Here is an example.

Pronoun shift:  I went to that restaurant because you know it has the best pizza.

This has an illogical shift. It literally is not conveying the intended meaning. I didn’t go to that restaurant because  you  knew it has the best pizza.

Corrected:  I went there because I knew it had the best pizza.

Sometimes for a formal paper or a specific assignment, an instructor may tell you to not use the first (I, me, my, we, us, our) or second person (you, your). Third person is more removed and lends a more academic tone.

First Person:  In my opinion, the best way to resolve problems with children is through the parents.

When we want to establish ourselves as an authority instead of simply giving our opinion, it is critical to use third person and not first person.

Third Person Restatement :  The best way to resolve problems with children is through the parents.

Using Second Person creates a lack of clarify.

Second Person:  You should know what your children are doing.

While we use  you  in everyday speech, the use is really not a specific reference.  It is just meant s a general expression.  In writing, we should be specific.  Literally, this sentence doesn’t say what it means.  The  you  not intended to include every reader.  There are readers who do not have children.  There are readers whose children are not living at home.

Third Person Restatement :  Parents with children living at home should know what their children are doing.

When you give directions or advice to the reader, you are using omitted you second person.  Be sure to proofread carefully.  Even though the word  you  is not expressed, it is understood.

Second Person Implied (Understood) You : Look carefully before crossing the street.

The implied (understood) subject is you.

Third Person Restatement : Pedestrians should look carefully before crossing the street.

Generally, second person (you, your) should not be used in college writing. First person may be appropriate for particular assignments depending upon the instructions.  When in doubt, it is safer not to use first person (I, me, my, we, us, our) unless of course the assignment calls for a personal response. Always check with your instructor.

In fiction writing, authors use point of view or voice in different ways to further the story.  Some even adopt a first person point of view when it was not even their personal experiences they are writing about.

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How to Effectively Use Active and Passive Voice in Academic Writing

A sentence is considered to be in passive voice when the subject of a sentence is the object being acted on. Active voice, on the other hand, is where the subject is the one doing the acting. In the 20 th century, passive voice was a dominant characteristic of scientific writing; however, there has been a discernible shift in consensus in recent years. Most writing guides (such as APA [6 th edition, section 3.18]), root for the active voice for clarity and conciseness. According to scholars, the general opinion is that the passive voice makes writing flat and insinuates evasion of responsibility in writing of any form, not just scientific writing.

In fact, some scholars have actually shown that active voice was the preferred form till the beginning of the 20 th century when the trend of objectivity became favored. According to Ding (1998), in writing, the world should essentially be represented “in terms of objects, things, and materials.” Passive voice can obscure agents and readers can lose sight of the relevance of a prose that is dominated by things and objects. However, in the art of writing, polarized views often become irrelevant and a balance must be achieved by using the two voices contextually.

After all, human agents are responsible for designing experiments…writing awkward phrases to avoid admitting their responsibility and their presence is an odd way of being objective . -Jane J. Robinson

The APA recommends that verb tenses and voices should be used carefully. Try not to be reluctant to utilize the active voice – particularly in the Discussion section, where it is imperative to express that it is you supposing certain things and having specific assessments. In the Methods section, it is satisfactory to break the dullness of numerous passive voice sentences with the usage of the active voice. A response on Quora (John Geare, 2015) sums up the required balance in a succinct manner:

In academic writing, passive voice is used to describe a process, the results of study , or similar material which is objective in nature. But active voice is used to describe actions.

Related: Having trouble with grammar and punctuations in your research paper ?  Get help from native language experts now!

John Geare provides a specific example for clarity.

My colleagues A, B, [names changed] and I, designed an experiment to test the impact on worker perceptions of well-being when domesticated cats were allowed to freely roam various work environments in which the subjects were normally employed. Three test environments were selected for our experiments: a law office, a laboratory in which experiments were performed using laboratory rats, and an automobile assembly line. One-way mirrored glass panels were installed to allow video cameras to record the activity, and researchers to observe the same and take notes. We secretly inserted observers directly into the work environment. These observers posed as outside contractors, and were uniformed as maintenance and cleaning staff, coffee and water service vendors, and similar supporting personnel. The observers were drawn from the students who were matriculated into the experimental psychology courses from which this study had been developed as an example of such studies generally.

You can check the references for more information on the usage of active and passive voice across writing styles.

References:

Vijith Assar (2015, September 3) An Interactive Guide To Ambiguous Grammar. Retrieved from https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/an-interactive-guide-to-ambiguous-grammar

Josh Bernoff, WOBS LLC (2016, April 26) A passel of pernicious passive voice (Master Post). Retrieved from http://withoutbullshit.com/blog/master-post-passel-pernicious-passive-voice

Duke University Scientific Writing Resource. Passive Voice in Scientific Writing. Retrieved from https://cgi.duke.edu/web/sciwriting/index.php?action=passive_voice

Leong Ping Alvin (2014, March 13) The passive voice in scientific writing. The current norm in science journals . Retrieved from https://jcom.sissa.it/sites/default/files/documents/JCOM_1301_2014_A03.pdf

Language and Learning Online. Active or passive voice? Retrieved from http://www.monash.edu.au/lls/llonline/writing/general/lit-reviews/5.xml

John Geare (2015, August 29) Why shouldn’t we use a passive voice in academic writing? Retrieved from https://www.quora.com/Why-shouldnt-we-use-a-passive-voice-in-academic-writing

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TIP Sheet ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE

Grammatically correct writing is good. But not all grammatically correct writing is equally good. Better writers have learned that, most of the time, active verb constructions are better than passive ones. If you learn to identify passive voice verbs and recast them into active voice, your writing will improve.

Active voice is direct, strong, and easy to understand. Active voice verbs create movement, clarity, and impact. Passive voice, on the other hand, seems roundabout, weak, and evasive. Passive voice combines a "to be" verb (is, was, were, are) with a past-participle verb form (written, given, expected): "was managed," "were approved," "is to be completed."

(Note: past and present progressive verbs, "are shopping" or "were discussing" for example, are not passive voice. The -ing form requires the helper verb "to be." Similarly, verbs in the present and past perfect tenses, "have eaten," "had attended," are not passive; these perfect tenses use the participle form along with the helper verb "to have.")

Actor/Receiver Most sentences have both an actor that performs the action, and something which is acted upon, or receives the action. When the actor is the subject of the sentence, the active voice results. In English, we expect to hear statements in that sequence: actor, verb, receiver of the action:

Bob writes limericks in his spare time.

It is, however, possible to write this sentence another way, making the limerick the subject of the sentence. In passive voice the actor, that is, the one who did it, is not the subject of the sentence. The actor, in this case the limerick writer, is moved into a prepositional phrase:

The limerick was written by Bob in his spare time.

The expected actor-verb-receiver sequence is reversed; instead the pattern here is receiver-verb-actor. Limerick becomes the subject of the sentence, yet it is still the receiver of the action (that is, the limerick did not do the writing).

The problem with passive voice is that your brain has to take a moment to unravel this. There are more words, for one thing, and the grammar is more complicated. A moment doesn't seem like long, but when you are reading a document loaded with passive voice constructions, the moments add up. That's why it seems to take so much time and effort to read some government publications–or poorly written textbooks. Writing filled with passive voice constructions are slow to read and difficult to understand.

Passive voice is not intrinsically evil, nor should you aim to eliminate it at every instance. If the limerick itself is more important than who wrote it, for example, passive voice may be appropriate. In general, place the most important word near the beginning of the sentence, as mass media writers do; this may result in a passive construction, but more often it will not.

The missing actor Sometimes the use of passive voice causes the actor to disappear entirely. Here, we are interested primarily in when the limerick was written:

The limerick was written last week. (Who wrote it is not an issue.)

However, if you use passive voice out of habit rather than by choice, the disappearance of the actor may have unintended consequences. In informative writing, for example, who said it is often as important as what was said. If you construct sentences that bury the actor in a prepositional phrase or omit the actor entirely, your argument may appear evasive and weak. Compare the following:

Passive voice, actor omitted: Reporters have been told that traffic, noise, and congestion would result from the proposed development. (Who told them? And are the reporters the most important thing here?)

Active voice, actor as subject: The development will bring traffic, noise, and congestion to nearby Spyglass Road, say neighbors of the proposed site.

In fact, a writer may deliberately use passive voice to break bad news or to deny responsibility for something unpleasant. Business writers know this.

Passive voice, actor omitted: Your auto insurance policy, unfortunately, will not be renewed in October.

However, a vast number of passive constructions exist in college and business writing with no good justification.

The spelling and grammar checker in some word processing programs (Microsoft Word, for example) can be set to report to you how many passive constructions appear in your document. Try recasting some of those sentences into active voice to achieve no more than 10 percent passive voice constructions.

If you learn to prefer active voice whenever possible, your writing is almost certain to improve.

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Capstone Form and Style

Scholarly voice: active vs. passive voice, active vs. passive voice.

APA style encourages use of the active voice over passive voice for clarity. Writing in the active voice means the subject of the sentence clearly performs the action that the verb expresses. 

APA stresses using the active voice to make it clear to the reader who is taking action in the sentence. The reason is that the use of passive voice often makes it difficult for the reader to determine who is taking the action of the verb. In addition, the active voice stresses that the actor (or grammatical subject) precedes the verb, again, putting emphasis on the subject.

The order of words in a sentence with active voice is subject, verb, object.

• Example : I conducted a study of elementary school teachers.
• This sentence structure puts the emphasis of the sentence on the subject, clarifying who conducted the study. 
• Example : A study was conducted of elementary school teachers.
• In this sentence, it is not clear to the reader who conducted this study. 

Generally, in scholarly writing, with its emphasis on precision and clarity, the active voice is preferred. However, the passive voice is acceptable in some instances, for example:

• if the reader is aware of who the actor is;
• in expository writing, where the goal of the discussion is to provide background, context, or an in-depth explanation;
• if the writer wants to focus on the object or the implications of the actor’s action; or
• to vary sentence structure.  

Also, much like for anthropomorphism , different writing styles have different preferences. So, though you may see the passive voice used heavily in articles that you read for your courses and study, it does not mean that APA style advocates the same usage.

Examples of Writing in the Active Voice

Here are some examples of scholarly writing in the active voice:

• This is active voice because the subject in the sentence precedes the verb, clearly indicating who (I) will take the action (present).

Example : Teachers conducted a pilot study addressing the validity of the TAKS exam.

• Similarly, teachers (subject) clearly took the action (conducted) in this sentence.

Recognizing the Passive Voice

According to APA, writers should select verb tenses and voice carefully. Consider these examples to help determine which form of the verb is most appropriate:

Example : A study was conducted of job satisfaction and turnover.

• Here, it is not clear who did the conducting. In this case, the writer should revise this sentence to clarify who is doing the conducting. 

Example : I conducted a study of job satisfaction and turnover.

• This revised sentence clearly indicates the action taker. Using “I” to identify the writer’s role in the research process is often a solution to the passive voice (see APA 7, Section 4.16).

Using the past tense of the verb “to be” and the past participle of a verb together is often an indication of the passive voice. Here are some signs to look for in your paper:

• Example : This study was conducted.
• Example : Findings were distributed.

Another indication of passive voice is when the verb precedes the actor in the sentence. For example, even if the action taker is clearly identified, that actor should be the grammatical subject and come before the verb.

• Issue : Though the verb and the actor (action taker) are clearly identified here, to use the active voice , the writer should also place that actor, Rogers, before the verb. This improves clarity and word economy as well.
• Correct : Rogers (2016) conducted a study on nursing and turnover.
• Issue : Here, the actor follows the verb, which reduces emphasis and clarity.
• This revised sentence is in the active voice and clearly identifies the action takers and the action being taken.

Intentional Use of the Passive Voice

Sometimes, even in scholarly writing, the passive voice may be used intentionally and strategically. A writer may intentionally include the subject later in the sentence so as to reduce the emphasis and/or importance of the subject in the sentence. See the following examples of intentional passive voice to indicate emphasis:

Example : Schools not meeting AYP for 2 consecutive years will be placed on a “needs improvement” list by the State’s Department of Education.

• Here, all actors taking actions are identified, but this is in the passive voice as the State’s Department of Education is the actor doing the placing, but this verb precedes the actor. This may be an intentional use of the passive voice, to highlight schools not meeting AYP.
• To write this in the active voice, it would be phrased: “The State’s Department of Education will place schools not meeting AYP for 2 consecutive years on a “needs improvement” list. This sentence places the focus on the State’s Department of Education, not the schools.

Example : Participants in the study were incentivized with a $5 coffee gift card, which I gave them upon completion of their interview.

• As the writer and researcher, I may want to vary my sentence structure in order to avoid beginning several sentences with “I provided…” This example is written in the passive voice, but the meaning is clear.

Using Passive Voice in Scholarly Writing

As noted before, passive voice is allowed in APA style and can be quite appropriate, especially when writing about methods and data collection. However, students often overuse the passive voice in their writing, which means their emphasis in the sentence is not on the action taker. Their writing is also at risk of being repetitive. Consider the following paragraph in which the passive voice is used in each sentence:

A survey was administered . Using a convenience sample, 68 teachers were invited to participate in the survey by emailing them an invitation. Email addresses of teachers who fit the requirements for participation were provided by the principal of the school . The teachers were emailed an information sheet and a consent form. Responses were collected from 45 teachers… As you can see, the reader has no idea who is performing these actions, which makes the research process unclear. This is at odds with the goal of the methods discussion, which is to be clear and succinct regarding the process of data collection and analysis.

However, if translated entirely to the active voice, clearly indicating the researcher’s role, “I” becomes redundant and repetitive, interrupting the flow of the paragraph:

In this study, I administered a survey. I created a convenience sample of 68 teachers. I invited them to participate in the survey by emailing them an invitation. I obtained email addresses from the principal of the school… “I” is quite redundant here and repetitive for the reader.

The Walden Writing Center suggests that students use “I” in the first sentence of the paragraph . Then, as long as it is clear to the reader that the student (writer) is the actor in the remaining sentences, use the active and passive voices appropriately to achieve precision and clarity (where applicable):

In this study, I administered a survey using a convenience sample. Sixty-eight teachers were invited to participate in the survey. The principal of the school provided me with the email addresses of teachers who fit the requirements for participation. I emailed the teachers an information sheet and a consent form. A total of 45 teachers responded …

The use of the passive voice is complicated and requires careful attention and skill. There are no hard-and-fast rules. Using these guidelines, however, should help writers be clearer and more engaging in their writing, as well as achieving the intended purposes.

Remember, use voice strategically. APA recommends the active voice for clarity. However, the passive voice may be used, with intention, to remove the emphasis on the subject and also as a method for varying sentence structure. So, generally write in the active voice, but consider some of the above examples and some uses of the passive voice that may be useful to implement in your writing. Just be sure that the reader is always aware of who is taking the action of the verb.

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How to write in an active voice.

posted by iWriter user iWriter Team

December 7, 2020

Writers, bloggers, and marketing professionals are often told to write in an active voice. While there is nothing wrong with using the passive voice, most readers prefer the active voice for non-scientific content. Active voice sentences are typically shorter and less likely to create confusion than those written in the passive voice.

If you’re wondering how to write in an active voice, know that practice is the key. Start with your blog or marketing copy. Look for passive voice sentences and try to convert them to the active voice.

For example, would you prefer to say “The technician fixed my computer” or “My computer was fixed by the technician?” The first sentence sounds better, isn’t it? It’s shorter, easier to read, and highlights the logical flow of action.

But what’s the difference between the two from a reader’s standpoint? Does it matter when it comes to search engine optimization ? Most importantly, when should you use the active voice and when to use passive voice sentences?

Let’s find out!

Active vs. Passive Voice

Medical journals, technical reports, and scientific studies typically use the passive voice. Mose sentences contain a form of “to be” followed by a past participle verb.

This structure emphasizes the object or person receiving the action. The active voice, on the other hand, emphasizes the object or person performing the action.

Most readers prefer the active voice over the passive voice—and so do the search engines. However, passive voice sentences have a role in oral and written communication.

For example, it’s recommended to use the passive voice when the performer is irrelevant or unknown, as in: “The house was built in 1965.” In this case, the name of the building company (the “performer”) is not relevant.

Likewise, you may use passive voice sentences when the performer is less important than the action, such as “The phone was charged for three hours.”

As far as non-technical writing goes, the active voice is your best bet. Active voice sentences are more dynamic and succinct and have a strong, direct tone. Here are a few examples:

• Children love this game.
• The dog chased the cat for hours.
• Most stores sell fish oil and other supplements rich in omega-3s.

These sentences have a basic structure: subject, verb, and object. Passive voice sentences, by comparison, start with the object followed by a passive verb . The preposition “by” typically precedes the subject.

Note that using the verb “to be” (in any form) doesn’t always constitute the passive voice.

For example, the sentence “Your kids are concerned about this problem” isn’t passive. “Are,” the plural form of the verb “to be,” is simply describing how they feel about a particular situation.

Why Is It Important to Use the Active Voice?

The active voice can make your writing more powerful and engaging. Plus, your readers won’t have to guess what you mean.

Active voice sentences clearly state the action being performed, which helps eliminate confusion. They also use concrete verbs, making it easier to communicate with your readers.

Passive verbs, by comparison, make your writing sound more formal. They may also give the impression that very little action is taking place. As a result, your brand story or blog posts will be less engaging.

When you use the active voice, your tone becomes more conversational and natural. This approach also evokes emotions, as in: “The criminals stole her purse and left her in tears.” Don’t you feel sorry for the character after reading this?

Depending on the context, the active voice may create a sense of urgency. Plus, it makes your sentences more concise and less wordy.

Need one more reason to use the active voice in your writing? Think about search engine optimization, or SEO.

Yoast and other SEO tools take into account the number of passive verbs as part of their readability analysis . A blog post, article, or website page that overuses the passive voice will be more difficult to read and understand. As a result, it may affect your SEO efforts, as well as the message you want to convey.

Passive voice sentences are more complex and hence require more cognitive effort than those using the active voice. Your readers may lose interest or find the text ambiguous .

As a rule of thumb, you should try to get your point across in as few words as possible . That’s where the active voice can make all the difference.

Learn How to Write in an Active Voice

Writing in the active voice is easier than you think. First, check your content for passive voice sentences. Pay attention to the following aspects:

• Sentences and phrases that include the “by” clause
• The subject is not explicitly stated
• Forms of the verb “to be,” such as “have been,” “was,” or “where”
• Past participle verbs, such as those ending in “-ed”

Always focus on who the subject is.

In an active sentence, the subject is the person or object performing the action, as in: “The tourists polluted the lake.” If you say “The lake was polluted by tourists,” that’s a passive voice sentence.

Sometimes, you may need to read the entire paragraph or text to identify the subject. If the subject is somewhat anonymous, you may use a general term like “people,” “scientists,” or “they” when switching to the active voice. The overall message should remain unchanged.

No one expects you to write an entire page in the active voice. The key is to figure out where you should use active voice sentences and where it’s preferable to switch to the passive voice.

Make Your Writing More Engaging and Concise

Whether you’re a published author, blogger, or marketer, there is always room for improvement. Start by learning how to write in an active voice. Think of it as a simple, effective way to make your content more engaging.

Remember that practice makes it perfect. Join our team to hone your writing skills and build a meaningful career! If you’re a business owner, sign up on our platform to hire top talent.

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Passive versus Active Voice: How To Write in Active Voice?

EssayEdge > Blog > Passive versus Active Voice: How To Write in Active Voice?

The reason we are devoting nearly an entire section to tips on removing the passive voice from your writing is that it is both a very common flaw and very easily correctable. Passive voice vs active voice can seem like a difficult choice to make while writing. Within this section we explain how to choose more active language even when passive voice is not involved.

Table of Contents:

Defining Passive vs Active Voice

Passive voice occurs when the subject and object of an action are inverted, so the subject is the recipient of the act instead of its performer. For example:

Passive:  The man was bitten by the dog.

Active:  The dog bit the man.

Passive:  I was told by my teacher to come at noon.

Active:  My teacher told me to come at noon.

Note that the word “by” is present in these two examples. A sentence can be passive without the word “by,” but it is always at least implied. For example: “I was given bad directions [by my friend].”

Passive voice always involves a to be verb. To be verbs include am, are, been, being, is, was, were. On the other hand, a sentence can include a to be verb without being passive. For example:

• “I have been involved in this organization for several years.”
• “He is leaving in five minutes.”

Later we will discuss ways to avoid to be verbs even when they are not in passive-voice constructions.

When Passive Voice is Acceptable

There are generally two cases when passive voice is acceptable:

• when there is no defined or tangible subject;
• when the emphasis really should be on the object of the action. In these cases, the alternative is often awkward and less natural sounding.

Case 1:  He is referred to as “the great one.” Awkward alternative:  The general public refers to him as “the great one.”

Case 2:  For the fifth time this year, Johnson was hit by a pitch. Awkward alternative:  For the fifth time this year, a pitch hit Johnson.

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Avoiding Passive Voice

Active verbs for essays are certainly better than passive ones. As we have already shown, the basic approach to avoiding passive voice is quite simple. Identify the subject of the action (the noun that follows “by” or is otherwise implied) and bring that to the front of the clause. Remove the to be verb. Adjust any other word-order issues as needed. Try these five examples as an exercise:

• He was given too many chances to start over by his friends.
• She was instructed to remain seated by her teacher.
• Their efforts were obstructed by brilliant defensive strategy.
• The machine was started by the operator on time.
• The door was shut by the angry mother.
• His friends gave him too many chances to start over.
• Her teacher instructed her to remain seated.
• Brilliant defensive strategy obstructed their efforts.
• The operator started the machine on time.
• The angry mother shut the door.

Therefore, try using active rather than passive to achieve a perfect writing style.

Achieving Active Writing

Active language comes not just from avoiding passive voice but further requires the use of strong action verbs. In addition to avoiding to be verbs, you should try to replace helping verbs such as have, had, has, do, does, did and other vague verbs like got and get.

Before:  I  had  opportunities to develop my skills. After:  I  sought  opportunities to develop my skills.

Before:  I  got  the promotion through hard work. After:  I  earned  the promotion through hard work.

Before:  She  did well  in this competitive environment. After:  She  thrived  in this competitive environment.

Before:  My mother  didn’t want  to show up without a gift. After:  My mother  hesitated  to show up without a gift.

Before:  The salesman  told  the audience about his products. After:  The salesman  promoted  his products to the audience.

The last two examples demonstrate the lack of clear distinction between strong and weak verbs. To write better you have to understand for yourself what is the difference between active and passive voice. There is nothing in the dictionary that will tell you that promoted sounds stronger than told. It is largely a matter of how much meaning the word contains. Promoted has a more precise and nuanced meaning than told.

You can certainly develop a strong eye for these subtle issues, but active writing is an area where professional editing can make a substantial difference.

We clearly stated the importance of removing the passive voice from your writing: do a little work on yourself, and you’ll notice how your papers and your grades will change. There should be nothing complicated for you in drawing the line between passive and active verbs, especially considering the tips we shared here. Improving your writing style is crucial for writing and submitting a winning admission essay. But you need to remember you have an opportunity to order essay edit online : our professional editors are always ready to help you.

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From Passive to Peppy: How to Write in an Active Voice and Be More Engaging

Anyone who does scientific or academic writing uses passive sentences from time to time. But why do content marketing experts put such a strong emphasis on sentence construction? Well, a blog post or an essay aims to catch a reader’s attention. Therefore, this article explains how using active sentences benefits a writer.

Why is Active Voice a Way to Write Better?

A major question arises when everyone encourages you to use an active voice. Why does a passive voice lose this competition? Let’s take a look at the sentence structure in both cases. For example, an active sentence would be ‘Millie reads a book,’ and a passive sentence would transform into ‘A book is read by Millie.’ 

Even without knowing language rules, an essay writer can tell which writing style is eye candy. Active sentences naturally sound more pleasant and engaging. Is this some kind of sorcery? The secret is that people rarely use passive sentences in real life. Instead, they focus on the meaning rather than a beautiful sentence form.

Additionally, active sentences have a faster pace. Imagine a reader who is looking for a recipe. Indeed, they would like to learn ingredients and measurements quickly. In this situation, sentences written using passive verbs slow down the reading process and irritate the reader.

Apart from the speed factor, every sentence has an informative function. Thus, here wins the writing style that makes more sense for the readers. Especially in scientific writing, double meanings and twists are not welcome.

Comparing Active and Passive Voice

If your goal is to create an engaging paper, first learn the difference between two kinds of voices. Both have a right to exist depending on the type of written work. So let the battle of ‘Active vs passive voice’ begin!

Making your sentences more concise is one of the popular writing tips. Mind that passive voice examples have more words than active phrases:

‘Josh drives a car.’

‘A car is driven by Josh.’

Both sentences convey the same idea. However, the active voice sentence contains fewer words and is more easily readable.

No matter what type of sentence you come across, there is usually a verb, an object, and a subject:

‘A woman pets the cat.’

‘The cat is being petted by a woman.’

Notice how the verb (to pet) changes its form while the object (a cat) and the subject of the sentence (a woman) switch places.

Whether you pay someone to write an essay or prefer your own writing, you should know about passive vs active voice verbs. For example, in an active sentence, ‘John ate the cake,’ you see the regular past tense of the verb ‘to eat.’ Meanwhile, if you say, ‘The cake was eaten by John,’ you see Past Participle. This example shows that active verbs are easier for readers to perceive. So, we suggest you start using them.

Above all, an active or passive voice sets a certain tone in any written example. If you focus on the feeling these phrases give, you may admit that action verbs are more direct. Contrarily, passive wording sounds more neutral.

Why Is It Important to Use the Active Voice?

What is active voice in a nutshell? According to the active voice definition, you always know who is the subject of the sentence. So why exactly is active voice important? Here is an analysis of its most common advantages.

As mentioned before, active voice creates a more direct message than a passive voice sentence. Although it may seem like there is no difference for a reader, active verbs always have a stronger impact on the audience. For example, saying ‘The government funds young families’ hooks attention. On the other hand, in ‘Young families are funded by the government,’ the subject receives less recognition. Thus, the tone seems off and not engaging enough.

How to write in active voice? Create as simple sentences as possible! In most written examples, the authors convey information through minimum words. Yet, in someone’s personal opinion, the passive voice sounds more sophisticated. At the same time, it becomes hard to enjoy reading with an overkill of passive verbs. An average reader prefers clear and concise papers.

Responsibility

Undeniably, a verb’s action affects the receiver in a sentence somehow. The audience has to understand the cause and effect, and an active voice helps better in this case. For instance, popular writing tips recommend saying, ‘A robber stole a million dollars,’ instead of ‘A million dollars was stolen by a robber.’ Why is the first option better? All because the general public needs to know who acted as a criminal here.

When to Use an Active Voice?

Whenever you order essay online or look up other people’s works, you encounter various active voice examples. The reason is that active phrases are the standard in academic papers. However, the use of active verbs is far beyond scholarly works. Here are other motivations for employing active voice:

While Constructing Shorter Phrases

Do you want to create a paper that gets straight to the point? Then, express your thoughts through an active voice. For example, look at the following sentence:

‘The road sign was installed by workers yesterday.’

Even less experienced writers can agree that this piece seems too wordy. So which is the best way to write this sentence in the active voice? Try this order instead:

‘Workers installed the road sign yesterday.’

Even though the meaning remains the same in active vs. passive voice, the message shrinks and looks better. This strategy helps when you have an assignment with a limited word count!

To Evoke a Feeling of Authority

Sometimes, a person wants to make their writing more serious and authoritative. Should they pick active voice or passive voice to meet their goal? Compare the next options:

‘The manager implemented a new strategy.’

‘A new strategy was implemented by the manager.’

Indeed, the wording in the first case sounds more powerful as the emphasis is on the subject (the manager).

To Make Sentences Easy to Grasp

Anyone who uses law essay writing services knows how important word order is for meaning interpretation. Since passive voice is often overcomplicated, experts recommend avoiding it. Read the next piece:

‘The obligations were promised to be fulfilled by the partner until December.’

How to change passive to active voice here? See the next option:

‘The partner promised to fulfill the obligations until December.’

That’s it! A writer decreases word count and avoids confusing the readers.

When to Use Passive Voice Sentences?

You might assume that active wording is the best solution in any situation. However, despite all the spotlight the active voice receives, there is still room for employing the passive form. What is passive voice, in short? A passive voice example would be ‘A tree is cut by the neighbor.’ In such sentences, a subject (a tree) always undergoes some effect from an object (the neighbor). Such wording is useful under certain circumstances, which we discuss below.

While Making General Declarations

While some people might wonder how to fix passive voice in their writing, others actively employ it. The first illustration of passive wording is more common than you think. You hear passive speech regularly when you visit a public area like a train station, airport, or shopping mall. Some of the illustrations are:

‘Visitors are advised to leave before the mall closes at 11 p.m.’

‘Train passengers are reminded to keep their tickets till the end of the trip.’

‘Theater visitors are advised to arrive at least ten minutes before play.’

To Underline the Receiver of the Action

Passive voice puts emphasis on someone or something that receives the action. In other words, the subject in such sentences plays the main role. For example, let’s analyze the following illustration:

‘Michael Jackson was adored by people worldwide.’

What information do you get from these words? It is possible to rephrase the sentence like this:

‘People adored Michael Jackson worldwide.’

The first wording underlines Michael Jackson as a receiver the most.

When the Agent is Unimportant or Uninteresting

Another situation when a passive voice is applicable occurs when the information about an agent is unessential. You can mention the ‘doer’ briefly or ignore him without distorting the sentence's meaning. Usually, this writing strategy helps when you speak about services:

‘My hair is cut monthly.’

‘Their pool is being cleaned at this moment.’

‘The clothes are washed regularly.’

As you can see, there is enough information about the hair, pool, and clothes. At this point, mentioning someone who does the action is unnecessary.

Changing Phrases to the Active Voice

Once you explore the concept, it becomes clear that both active and passive voice are necessary for high-quality communication. Nonetheless, many people want to figure out how to change passive voice to active voice. They might need this knowledge to improve their writing for studies or work. If you are one of these people, follow the further instructions:

• Look at your passive sentences and try to identify subjects, objects, and verbs.
• Get rid of the word ‘by’ if your sentence contains it.
• Transform the Past Participle into the verb that fits in the context.
• Swap subject and object.

With passive and active voice examples, the process looks easier. For example, see how the next passive sentence transforms:

‘A ball was thrown by children.’

Now you take out ‘by’ and change ‘was thrown’ for ‘threw.’ Finally, children become the subject, and a ball becomes an object:

‘Children threw a ball.’

Voila, you get a perfect active sentence!

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How To Stand Out In The Ivy League During Your Freshman Year

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Harvard College

This spring, many students felt the relief and exuberance that comes with an acceptance letter from one’s dream school. Many students attending Ivy League and other top universities are valedictorians and leaders in their high school communities; they excelled throughout their high school careers and graduated with the accolades to prove it. Yet, these students are often in for a rude awakening when they arrive on campus. Though they were exceptional at their high schools, they are a dime a dozen in the Ivy League. This realization can cause many students to feel imposter syndrome and wonder how they can stand out and make an impression on their professors and peers in such a competitive environment.

The more that students prepare themselves for this adjustment, the better. Standing out in college is a different endeavor than standing out in high school—it requires time, intentionality, and a willingness to be uncomfortable and challenge yourself. Most importantly, it takes practice, and if students seek to hone this skill from their first semester on campus, they will set themselves up for success for the next four years.

For students preparing for their first semester in college, here are five strategies to navigate the transition into the Ivy League with confidence, purpose, and distinction:

1. Make your voice heard in the classroom

At Ivy League and many other top schools, faculty-to-student ratios and class sizes tend to be small, allowing greater opportunity for you to establish yourself in the classroom and engage with your professors directly. Many students are weighed down by self-doubt and the desire to avoid making mistakes in their first semester, and as such, they are reluctant to raise their hands or offer their input. But one of the best ways to establish connections with professors is to use your voice in the classroom—college is about learning and growing, so don’t be afraid to get a question wrong or develop your ideas through conversation. Doing so will allow you to connect with others in class, build your intellectual skill set, and demonstrate your curiosity and earnest desire to learn.

2. Engage in activities outside of the classroom

Beyond academics, the Ivy League is known for vibrant opportunities to learn and connect with others outside of the classroom. Whether you're interested in student government, the performing arts, guest lectures, community service, or intramural athletics, there’s an opportunity to explore your passions. Join clubs and organizations that align with your interests and values, and consider taking on leadership roles to showcase your initiative and organizational skills. Engaging in extracurricular activities will not only enrich your college experience but also afford you the opportunity to get to know people outside of your major or residence hall.

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Biden vs. trump 2024 election polls: biden losing support among key voting blocs, japanese fans are puzzled that yasuke is in assassin s creed shadows, 3. cultivate your network.

One of the most valuable assets you'll gain during your time in the Ivy League is your network of peers, professors, and mentors. Take the time to connect with your classmates and professors, attend faculty office hours, and engage in meaningful discussions. One of the best ways to build your network is to simply put yourself out there—a student’s college years are the prime opportunity to connect with even the most distinguished scholars in their field, as they not only likely have connections through their institution, but professors (even at other universities) are more likely to respond to students who reach out for their advice. If one knowledgeable person doesn’t respond or have the bandwidth to advise you on a particular project or query, move on to the next person on your list!

4. Pursue Research, Internship, and Study Abroad Opportunities

The Ivy League offers unparalleled access to research, internship, and study abroad opportunities that can complement your academic studies and expand your horizons. For instance, Harvard offers a multitude of distinguished research positions for undergraduates, ranging from thesis research to research assistantships. The University of Pennsylvania sent students to 48 countries through their study abroad offerings in the 2022-2023 academic year. Meanwhile, Princeton offers more than 400 programs in 140 countries through which students may study abroad. Whether conducting groundbreaking research in your field of study or gaining real-world experience through internships, the plethora of opportunities available to you at an Ivy League university will not only enhance your resume but also deepen your understanding of your chosen field and prepare you for future success.

5. Carve out your niche

Finally, just as high school is a time to hone your passions and demonstrate them in action in your community, college is a more rigorous opportunity to identify and make a name for yourself within a niche industry or discipline. The best way to begin doing so is to have conversations with professors, graduate students, and older students in your field. Ask them questions like: Where do you see the field expanding or moving in the next five years? What are the most significant recent developments in this profession/field? What subjects do you think have been largely unexplored? What advice would you give to emerging scholars in this discipline? While pursuing a subject of true interest to you is indeed important, it is also important to consider how you will contribute uniquely to your subject of interest, and thereby maximize your odds of success in the job market.

Finally, keep in mind that you can (and should) begin practicing these skills in high school. The more you engage in these activities, the more natural they will be when you are on campus at a top university.

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How to Write a 3000 word Essay in Less Than 60 Minutes

Writing a 3000 word essay in under an hour might seem impossible, especially when facing a tight deadline. However, with the right approach, it's not as daunting as it sounds. A good example of this is our guide on how to write a 1000 word essay .

This article shares 5 practical tips and strategies to help you write efficiently and effectively within a limited timeframe.

EssayPro Guide on How to Write Your Essay Faster

Our team of experts has created a how-to guide for you on how to write your essay fast. Here you go:

Voice-to-Text Software

Voice-to-text software can significantly expedite essay writing by allowing users to dictate their thoughts and ideas, bypassing manual typing verbally. This technology enables a continuous writing flow, as individuals can speak their ideas naturally and conversationally without interruptions. 

For example, instead of pausing to search for the right words or phrases, users can express their thoughts fluidly, resulting in a faster and more efficient writing process. Additionally, voice-to-text software eliminates the physical strain associated with typing for extended periods, allowing users to maintain productivity and focus for longer durations.

Furthermore, voice-to-text software offers flexibility in writing environments, as users can dictate their essays from virtually anywhere using a smartphone, tablet, or computer. For instance, individuals can dictate their essays while commuting, exercising, or completing other tasks, maximizing their time and productivity.

You can use the following voice-to-text tools:

• Dragon NaturallySpeaking
• Google Docs Voice Typing
• Microsoft Dictate
• Apple Dictation

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The Stream-of-Consciousness Writing

Stream-of-consciousness writing is a technique that involves recording thoughts as they come to mind, without filtering or censoring them. This approach can be particularly useful for writing essays in less than 60 minutes as it allows for a rapid flow of ideas and content generation. 

By bypassing the need for careful planning and organization, stream-of-consciousness writing enables writers to quickly capture their thoughts on paper and generate raw material for their essays. For example, writers can focus solely on expressing their ideas and arguments instead of worrying about sentence structure or grammar, resulting in a faster and more spontaneous writing process.

Moreover, stream-of-consciousness writing can help writers overcome writer's block and tap into their creativity more effectively. This can lead to more original and compelling essay content. For instance, writers may discover new angles or perspectives on their topic that they hadn't considered before, enriching their essays with fresh insights and perspectives.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use the stream-of-consciousness technique to write an essay:

• Set a timer.
• Clear distractions.
• Choose a topic.
• Begin writing.
• Write continuously.
• Don't edit or censor.
• Keep the pen moving.
• Embrace tangents.
• Stay in the moment.
• Review and edit later.

AI Writing Tools

AI writing tools can significantly expedite the essay writing process by automating various aspects of content creation, such as generating ideas, structuring arguments, and even drafting entire paragraphs. These tools leverage advanced natural language processing (NLP) algorithms to analyze input data and produce coherent, contextually relevant text output. 

For example, platforms like OpenAI's GPT-3 and Grammarly's AI-powered writing assistant offer features such as auto-completion, grammar and style suggestions, and even content generation based on user prompts. 

Furthermore, AI writing tools can assist writers in overcoming writer's block and generating ideas more efficiently. For instance, tools like Articoolo and QuillBot can generate article outlines or paraphrase existing text to provide inspiration and generate new content. 

Here are reliable AI essay writing tools:

• EssayPro Writing App

WARNING: While these tools can aid in content creation and idea generation, relying too heavily on them may lead to plagiarism or submitting low-quality, unoriginal work. Writers should use AI writing tools to supplement their research and writing process rather than replace critical thinking and academic rigor.

Collage Essay Method

The collage essay method is a creative approach to essay writing that involves assembling visual and textual materials into a collage to represent different aspects of the essay topic. This technique can be particularly effective in generating ideas quickly and organizing thoughts in a visually engaging manner. 

For example, imagine you're tasked with writing an essay on climate change. You could gather images, quotes, statistics, and diagrams related to climate change and arrange them on a poster board or digital canvas. The collage is a brainstorming tool to spark ideas and inspire the writing process by visually representing key concepts and arguments.

Moreover, the collage essay method encourages a nonlinear approach to essay writing, allowing writers to explore ideas from multiple perspectives and make connections between different topic elements. 

For instance, while arranging materials for the climate change collage, you might notice patterns or themes emerging that you hadn't considered before. This can lead to new insights and angles for your essay, enriching the content with diverse perspectives and supporting evidence.

Here are some useful tips for using the collage essay method for writing an essay fast:

• Gather diverse materials.
• Start with a central theme.
• Arrange materials strategically.
• Focus on visual impact.
• Incorporate text and images.
• Make connections between elements.
• Be open to unexpected insights.
• Iterate and refine as needed.

Role-Playing Scenario

The role-playing scenario method offers a fresh and engaging approach to essay writing, injecting creativity and empathy into the process. By immersing oneself in a specific role, writers can tap into their imagination and explore complex topics from various angles. 

For instance, if you're tasked with writing about the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, you could adopt the perspective of a futuristic AI developer or a concerned citizen living in a world dominated by AI technology. This imaginative exercise sparks inspiration and encourages deeper reflection on the subject matter, leading to more insightful and thought-provoking essays.

Furthermore, the role-playing scenario cultivates empathy and understanding by encouraging writers to embody diverse viewpoints and experiences. Whether you're writing about climate change, social justice, or economic policy, stepping into the shoes of different characters allows you to see the world through their eyes and develop a more nuanced understanding of complex issues. 

For example, by pretending to be a climate scientist researching the effects of deforestation, you might gain a deeper appreciation for the urgency of environmental conservation efforts. This empathetic approach to essay writing fosters a greater connection with both the subject matter and the audience, resulting in essays that are not only informative but also engaging and impactful.

How to adopt the role-playing scenario technique for writing an essay:

• Choose a relevant persona.
• Research and understand their background.
• Embody the persona's mindset.
• Write from their perspective.
• Maintain consistency with the persona.
• Review and adjust as needed.
• Use insights to enrich your essay.

There’s nothing impossible if you put an effort into it. Although 60 minutes sounds like a very limited period, a smart student can use it to produce a pretty decent essay and even have a few minutes left! So, how to write essays faster ?

The tips we gave you above do work, which thousands of students with hectic schedules have already proved. A word of warning, though – don’t rush to use tools like ChatGPT to generate an essay in 5 minutes because it’s hazardous for academic integrity. Remember – AI tools are assistants, and generated texts are to be rewritten from A to Z, which can also be done in an hour or less. If you’re awfully tired and physically can’t think or type, you better ask a professional human writer to help you. 

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Can You Write an Essay in 30 Minutes?

Can i write a 3000 word essay in 1 hour, how long does it take to write a 3000 words essay.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

• Howard, D. (2022, December 15). How to Write an Essay Fast . Nexus Education. https://nexus-education.com/blog-posts/how-to-write-an-essay-fast/
• 20 Top Tips for Writing an Essay in a Hurry . (2024, February 20). Oxford Royale. https://www.oxford-royale.com/articles/writing-essay-hurry/ ‍
• 4 Ways to Write Essays Faster – The Bookshelf . (n.d.). https://blogs.cornell.edu/learning/4-ways-to-write-essays-faster/

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More about Passive Voice

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In a sentence using passive voice , the subject is acted upon; he or she receives the action expressed by the verb. The agent performing the action may appear in a "by the..." phrase or may be omitted.

The dog is acting upon the sentence subject (the boy), meaning it uses the passive voice.

This example sentence includes the passive voice because the subject (research) is being acted upon (presented) by another person (Pooja).

This is an example of the passive voice.

The subject of the passive voice sentence performs the action expressed in the verb in this example.

Reasons to Avoid Passive Voice

Sometimes the use of passive voice can create awkward sentences, as in the last example above. Also, overuse of passive voice throughout an essay can cause your prose to seem flat and uninteresting. In scientific writing, however, passive voice is more readily accepted since using it allows one to write without using personal pronouns or the names of particular researchers as the subjects of sentences (see the third example above). This practice helps to create the appearance of an objective, fact-based discourse because writers can present research and conclusions without attributing them to particular agents. Instead, the writing appears to convey information that is not limited or biased by individual perspectives or personal interests.

Recognizing Passive Voice

You can recognize passive-voice expressions because the verb phrase will always include a form of be, such as am, is, was, were, are, or been . The presence of a be-verb, however, does not necessarily mean that the sentence is in passive voice. Another way to recognize passive-voice sentences is that they may include a "by the..." phrase after the verb; the agent performing the action, if named, is the object of the preposition in this phrase.

Helpful Hint

You can recognize passive voice because the verb phrase will include a form of be (was, am, are, been, is). Don't assume that just because there is a form of 'be' that the sentence is passive, however. Sometimes a prepositional phrase like "by the" in the sentences above indicates that the action is performed on the subject, and that the sentence is passive.