6.1 Active vs. Passive Voice and Tone Matching

Understanding Voice in Writing

When writing for the PERT, one of the most critical elements of clarity is the voice of your sentences. In grammar, voice refers to the relationship between the action (the verb) and the participant (the subject or object) in a sentence. There are two primary voices in English: active and passive. Knowing when and how to use each is essential for crafting strong, effective sentences.

The Active Voice

In the active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action. This structure is typically straightforward: Subject + Verb + Object. Active voice is generally preferred in both academic and professional writing because it is direct, clear, and concise. It leaves no ambiguity about who is performing the action.

Consider the following example:

• Active: The committee approved the new policy.

In this sentence, "The committee" is the subject performing the action ("approved"), and "the new policy" is the object receiving the action. The sentence is vigorous and easy to read. Active sentences naturally propel the reader forward.

The Passive Voice

In the passive voice, the subject of the sentence receives the action. The structure usually involves a form of the "to be" verb (is, are, was, were) followed by a past participle. Often, the "doer" of the action is moved to the end of the sentence in a prepositional phrase starting with "by," or omitted entirely.

Let's look at the passive version of our previous example:

• Passive: The new policy was approved by the committee.

Here, "The new policy" becomes the subject, but it is not doing anything; it is having something done to it. The "committee" is relegated to the end of the sentence.

While passive voice is not grammatically incorrect, it often leads to wordiness and can make sentences feel weak or evasive. Overusing passive voice can make your writing seem dull or bureaucratic.

When to Use Passive Voice

Although active voice is generally better, passive voice has its place. You should use it when:

1. The actor is unknown or irrelevant: "The building was constructed in 1905." (Who built it is less important than when it was built.)
2. You want to emphasize the recipient of the action: "The vaccine was distributed globally." (The vaccine is the focus, not the distributors.)
3. In scientific writing: To maintain objectivity, scientists often use passive voice (e.g., "The solution was heated to 100°C").

However, on the PERT Writing exam, questions often ask you to improve a sentence's clarity. Shifting from passive to active voice is a common way to achieve this.

Tone Matching and Audience

Beyond sentence structure, effective writing requires a consistent and appropriate tone. Tone is the writer's attitude toward the subject and the audience. In college-level writing, you are generally expected to maintain a formal, objective, and academic tone.

Formal vs. Informal Tone

An informal tone is conversational. It uses slang, contractions, colloquialisms, and first- or second-person pronouns (I, you, we). A formal tone, on the other hand, is professional and objective. It avoids slang, spells out contractions, and relies on third-person perspective (he, she, it, they).

Informal: I think the author is totally wrong about the economy, and you can see it in how she talks about taxes. Formal: The author's economic argument is flawed, which is evident in her analysis of taxation.

The formal version is more authoritative and precise. On the PERT, you will frequently be asked to select the word or phrase that best fits the established tone of a passage. If the passage is an academic essay, an informal or slangy choice will always be incorrect.

The Importance of Word Choice and Connotation

Selecting the right word is about more than just finding a synonym; it's about understanding connotation. The denotation of a word is its literal, dictionary definition, while the connotation is the emotional or cultural association it carries.

For example, the words thrifty, economical, and stingy all share a similar denotation related to saving money. However, their connotations are vastly different:

• Thrifty: Positive connotation (wise with resources).
• Economical: Neutral, objective connotation (efficient).
• Stingy: Negative connotation (unreasonably unwilling to spend).

If you are writing a persuasive essay praising a city mayor's budget plan, you would describe it as "economical" or "thrifty." Calling it "stingy" would undermine your positive argument. When tackling PERT questions about word choice, always consider the context. Does the sentence require a positive, negative, or neutral word?

Strategies for Rhetorical Effectiveness

To ensure your writing is rhetorically effective, employ the following strategies:

1. Identify the Actor: Always ask yourself, "Who is doing the action?" Make that person or thing the subject of your sentence to ensure active voice.
2. Eliminate Unnecessary Words: Passive constructions and informal phrasing often add fluff. Cut words that do not add meaning.
3. Read for Consistency: Check that the tone remains uniform throughout the passage. A sudden shift from formal academic language to casual slang will confuse the reader and weaken the argument.
4. Evaluate Nuance: When choosing between synonyms, mentally insert each option into the sentence and consider how it changes the emotional impact.

By mastering active voice, maintaining a consistent tone, and selecting words with the precise connotation needed, you will significantly improve the clarity, impact, and rhetorical effectiveness of your writing. These skills are fundamental to scoring well on the PERT Writing assessment and succeeding in college coursework.