Passive Voice
Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30
CORE DEFINITION
The recipient of the action is the subject (e.g., 'The ball was kicked by him'). Often considered weak or evasive writing ('Mistakes were made' vs. 'I made mistakes').
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
Attribution of responsibility. In business and news writing, minimize passive voice because it hides the actor. However, in mystery novels, if you want to hide the culprit ('The victim was killed'), passive voice is a legitimate tool.
Anchor fast decisions
Passive voice places the patient in subject position, demotes or omits the agent, affecting information focus and attribution of responsibility.
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/3Practice this model in one real situation:
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Source support: Explicit
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_voiceverified
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