Active voice writing is a technique that writers often use to make their writing more engaging and persuasive. By using active voice, the writer takes control of the conversation and communicates directly with the reader. In this article, we’ll be discussing some tips for writing in active voice, and we’ll also provide a few examples to help you get started.
One of the best ways to write in active voice is to put the action in the present tense. This makes the reader feel as if they’re right there in the story with the characters, experiencing everything firsthand. For example, instead of writing “The dog barked,” try “The dog barks.” This change in tense ensures that readers will be focus on what’s happening in the story and details won’t distract.
1. Use specific verbs to capture emotions
When writing in active voice, it’s important to use specific verbs to capture emotions. For example, instead of writing “She smiled,” try “She beams.” This change in verb choice helps to focus readers on what the character is feeling and lets them see the emotion plainly on her face. It also allows readers to associate that emotion with the character more easily, making them more invested in her story.
2. Keep your sentences short and simple
When writing in active voice, it’s important to keep your sentences short and simple. This will help to make the story more engaging and easy to read. Additionally, shorter sentences are easier to follow and less confusing than longer ones.
3. Use concrete images and examples
When you’re writing in active voice, it’s important to use concrete images and examples to help your readers understand what’s happening in the story. For example, instead of writing “The sun was shining,” try “The sun beamed down on them.” This change in verb choice helps to capture the feeling of sunlight streaming down on the characters. It also gives readers a visual representation of what’s happening in the story.
4. Use direct language whenever possible
When you’re writing in active voice, it’s important to use direct language whenever possible. This will make the story more engaging and easier to follow. Direct language is easy for readers to understand and allows them to connect with the characters more easily. For example, instead of writing “I don’t know,” try “I don’t understand.” This change in verb choice makes it clear that the character doesn’t know what to do or how to react.
Active voice is often easier to read than passive voice, which is why keeping your sentences short and simple is a great way to write in this style. Avoid using long strings of words that do nothing but waste space on the
What is Active Voice?
Active voice is a writing style in which the subject of a sentence is active rather than passive. In active voice, the subject is always responsible for carrying out the verb (for example, She sings), rather than act upon by the verb (for example, The song was sung).
The benefits of using active voice are several: first, it makes your writing more concise and straightforward. Second, it establishes a clear focus on what the speaker is doing (rather than on what they are being done to). Finally, it makes your writing more engaging for readers, because it shows them what actions are taking place.
There are a few things to keep in mind when writing in active voice: first, be sure to use contractions where appropriate; second, make sure all verbs are present tense and action-oriented; and third, be sure to use strong verbs when appropriate.
For more tips and advice on using active voice in your writing, check out our blog section!
How to Write in an Active Voice
Active voice is a more assertive and commanding style of writing. In active voice, the subject of the sentence is in the forefront and does most of the talking. This approach can be helpful when you want to emphasize the actions of your character or when you want to make a point without relying on passive language. Here are some tips for writing in an active voice:
1. Start with a strong subject. The stronger the subject, the easier it will be to write in an active voice. Use concrete verbs and nouns to create a strong, clear sentence. For example, “The car crashed into the building” is an active sentence because the subject—the car—is doing all of the action. “The building was hit by a car” is passive because the building is a passive recipient of action.
2. Make your verbs strong. Use verbs that indicate action and forcefulness. For example, say “He hit her” rather than “She was hit.” The first sentence is in an active voice because he is doing all of the action; he’s not being hit by someone else.
3. Don’t use too many passive verbs and nouns. Use them sparingly to avoid making your writing passive. For example, don’t say “The car was parked in the lot.” Instead, use “The car was parked by the lot.” This sentence is active because the subject, the car, is doing the action of being parked.
4. Use strong punctuation to emphasize your active voice sentences. Use commas to separate clauses and periods to mark the end of a sentence. For example, “He hit her with a punch” is an active sentence because the subject—he—is doing all of the action. “She was punched by him” is passive because she is a passive recipient of action.
Tips for Writing in an Active Voice
Active voice writing is a great way to communicate with others. It’s also a great way to control the tone of your writing. Here are some tips for using active voice in your writing:
1. Use active verbs to convey action and movement. For example, “The dog ran toward the cat” is more active than “The cat ran away from the dog.”
2. Use active nouns to describe what is happening. For example, “The student prepared her report” is more active than “A report was prepared by the student.”
3. Use active expressions to emphasize important points. For example, use phrases such as “actively campaigned” instead of “campaigned actively” to show that you are taking action.
4. Use active constructions to show how things are connected. For example, write “The result of his decision was disastrous” instead of “The decision resulted in a disaster.”
5. Use active verbs and expressions to create momentum and excitement in your writing. For example, write about how your characters are acting on the spot or describe their reactions in detail.
Also see: Pronunciation guide for Adult Learners
How to Use Active Voice
Active voice is a writing style in which the subject of the sentence is doing the action, rather than being spoken about. It’s often used in writing to make it more engaging for readers. Here are four tips for using active voice:
1. Make the Subject Do the Action
When you use active voice, make sure that the subject of your sentence is doing the action. For example, instead of saying “The cat jumped,” say “The cat landed on its feet.” This will make it clearer who is doing what and will help readers pay more attention to your story.
2. Use Present Tense to Show Action
When you use present tense to write about action, it will be clear who is doing what and when events happened. For example, instead of saying “I am going to the store,” say “I am walking to the store.” This will show that you are physically heading to the store and help your reader follow along with your story.
3. Use Active Verbs to Show Activity
Active verbs are verbs that show an action or state of being. For example, instead of saying “The cake is on the kitchen table,” say “The cake is baking in the oven .” This will show that the cake is in a state of being baked and help your reader understand what is happening in the story.
4. Use Conjunctions to Show Relationships
When you use conjunctions, you can show relationships between elements of your sentence. For example, instead of saying “The cat ran into the room,” say “The cat dashed into the room.” This will show that the cat reacted quickly and will help your reader follow along with your story.
Tips for Making your Writing More Active
Active voice is a writing style that favours making the subject of a sentence do the action, rather than being passive. This can make your writing more active and engaging for readers, as they will feel like they are part of the story. Here are a few tips for using active voice in your writing:
1. Start with the subject doing the action. For example, instead of saying “The cat jumped,” say “The cat leapt.” This makes it clear who is doing the action and makes it more active.
2. Use strong verbs that indicate motion or activity are always more engaging to read. For example, instead of saying “The door opened,” say “The door sprang open.” This shows more force and energy and makes the reader feel like they are right there in the scene.
3. Avoid using passive constructions. These phrases make your writing seem less active and more bland. For example, instead of saying “The book was handed to me,” try “I was given the book.” This shows that you are taking control of the situation and making it more active.
4. Keep your sentences short and to the point. This will keep your writing concise and easy to read, and will make it more active.
By following these tips, you can make your writing more active and engaging for readers.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to improve your writing skills, it’s important to learn how to write in an active voice. An active voice is one that speaks from the heart and feels genuine. It’s also more engaging for readers, which can help you communicate your ideas more effectively. In this article, we’ll explore some tips for writing in an active voice and explain why it’s such a powerful tool for improving your writing.