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16. Use the active voice: eliminate the passive voice:
Active voice occurs when the subject of the sentence actually performs the action described by the verb.
Passive voice occurs when the action described by the verb is done to the subject.
(Passive): “My first visit to Boston will always be remembered by me.”
(Active): “I shall always remember my first visit to Boston.”
“Note, in the examples above, that when a sentence is made shorter, it usually becomes stronger. Thus, brevity is a byproduct of vigor.” (E.B. White The Elements of Style)
(Passive): There were a great number of dead leaves lying on the ground.
(Active): Dead leaves covered the ground.
(Passive): The sound of the falls could still be heard.
(Active): We still heard the sound of the falls.
(Passive): The reason that he left college was that his health became impaired.
(Active): Failing health compelled him to leave college.
(Passive): It was not long before he was very sorry that he had said what he had.
(Active): He soon repented his words.
A common fault is to use as the subject of a passive construction a noun that expresses the entire action; this leaves the verb with no function beyond that of completing the sentence.
(Passive): A survey of this region was made in 1900.
(Active): This region was surveyed in 1900.
(Passive): Mobilization of the army was rapidly carried out.
(Active): The army was rapidly mobilized.
(Passive): Confirmation of these reports cannot be obtained.
(Active): These reports cannot be confirmed.
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