How to fix Passive voice in your writing (With Examples)

Sep 15

Ever read a sentence that feels flat, like the life has been drained out of it? That’s usually passive voice sneaking around in the dark.

Passive voice isn’t evil—it has its uses—but when it piles up in your writing, it makes your scenes drag. In this post, I’ll show you how to fix passive voice in your writing, give you clear examples, and share some quick rules of thumb you can keep by your desk.

What Is Passive Voice (and Why Fix It)?

In a passive sentence, the subject isn’t doing the action—it’s receiving it.

Passive: “The ball was thrown by John.”
Active: “John threw the ball.”

The difference feels small, but across a whole page, passive voice makes your writing muddy. Fixing passive voice puts your reader right in the room, instead of keeping them outside looking through the window.

Examples of Passive Voice (and How to Fix Them)

1. Action Without an Actor

Passive: “The alarm was sounded.”
Active (fixed): “The guard sounded the alarm.”

The first hides who did the thing. The second puts the action in someone’s hands.

2. “By” Phrases That Drag

Passive: “The cake was eaten by the dog.”
Active (fixed): “The dog ate the cake.”

If you spot the word by, check whether your sentence is secretly passive.

3. When Responsibility Gets Dodged

Passive: “Mistakes were made.”
Active (fixed): “I made a mistake.”

Passive voice often shows up when characters (or politicians) want to dodge blame. Sometimes that’s intentional—but if not, it makes your writing feel vague or evasive.

Quick Rules for Fixing Passive Voice

Here’s your cheat sheet:

Look for “was” or “were.” They aren’t always passive, but they’re red flags.
Hunt down “by.” If you see it, flip the sentence around.
Ask yourself: Who’s doing the action? Put them up front.

Takeaway

You don’t need to ban passive voice forever—but knowing how to fix passive voice when it weakens your sentences makes your writing sharper, more immediate, and more alive.

Think of it this way: Active voice carries the story forward. Passive voice slows it down.