Improving Your Style Lesson One: Action vs. State of Being Verbs Active vs. Passive Voice

Focus on Verbs State of being verbs. State of being verbs. Linking verbs Linking verbs Action verbs (including thinking, doing, etc.) Action verbs (including thinking, doing, etc.)

State of Being Verbs “To be” verbs “To be” verbs I am, you are, s/he is, they areI am, you are, s/he is, they are I was, you are, etc.I was, you are, etc. There is, was, etc.There is, was, etc. It is, “It’s”; They’re, We’re, etc.It is, “It’s”; They’re, We’re, etc. “To have” “To have” To do To do Shall, would, may, etc. Shall, would, may, etc.

Action Verbs Show the subject doing, thinking, acting, processing something. Show the subject doing, thinking, acting, processing something. I ran, he considered, they discussedI ran, he considered, they discussed Require an object Require an object I ran to the finish line. He considered enlisting in the army. They discussed pacifism.I ran to the finish line. He considered enlisting in the army. They discussed pacifism. Are more efficient because they include more information. Are more efficient because they include more information.

Edit out unnecessary “to be” verbs and substitute action verbs to make your writing more succinct and vibrant.

Minimize the Passive voice Passive Voice Passive Voice --requires the use of linking (“to be”) verbs --separates the subject of the sentence from the do-er of the action --creates vagueness

Passive, Active You have to act peaceably towards others and yourself before any progress is made. You have to act peaceably towards others and yourself before any progress is made. You have to act peaceably towards others and yourself before you can make progress. You have to act peaceably towards others and yourself before you can make progress.

Passive When my family drives through town, a comment is always made pertaining to the “support our troops” ribbons that are smacked on the backs of fuel-guzzling SUVs. When my family drives through town, a comment is always made pertaining to the “support our troops” ribbons that are smacked on the backs of fuel-guzzling SUVs. Are you making comments about others’ cars, or are others making comments about yours? Are you making comments about others’ cars, or are others making comments about yours?

Active When my family drives through town, one of us (mother, father, brother) usually comments on the “Support our Troops” ribbons smacked on the backs of fuel- guzzling SUVs. When my family drives through town, one of us (mother, father, brother) usually comments on the “Support our Troops” ribbons smacked on the backs of fuel- guzzling SUVs. When we drive through town in our fuel- guzzling SUV, we hear people making comments about the “Support our Troops” ribbons we smacked on the bumper to express our support for the military. When we drive through town in our fuel- guzzling SUV, we hear people making comments about the “Support our Troops” ribbons we smacked on the bumper to express our support for the military.

Passive My peaceful ways were often overlooked or set aside while playing any kind of competitive sport. My peaceful ways were often overlooked or set aside while playing any kind of competitive sport. Overlooked by whom? Overlooked by whom? Set aside by whom? Set aside by whom?

Active I often set aside my peaceful attitude while playing any kind of competitive sport. I often set aside my peaceful attitude while playing any kind of competitive sport. Here, the “do-er” of the action is in the subject position, clearly doing the action, and thus claiming responsibility for it. Here, the “do-er” of the action is in the subject position, clearly doing the action, and thus claiming responsibility for it.

Passive Voice Vague, sometimes intentionally so Vague, sometimes intentionally so Evasive Evasive Manipulative Manipulative “What happened to my keys?” “What happened to my keys?” “They were misplaced” (by me, but I’m not going to admit it.) “They were misplaced” (by me, but I’m not going to admit it.)

How Passive Voice can Work in Political Speech We say: We say: The enemy was eradicated and peace restored. (Passive)The enemy was eradicated and peace restored. (Passive) Instead of: Instead of: We killed our enemies and forcibly took control of a people who did not dare to resist. (Active)