The Importance of Passive Voice in Persuasive Writing

Understanding the Use of Passive Voice in Persuasive Writing

Persuasive writing often relies on various techniques, including the use of voice in constructing sentences. Two common voices are active and passive.

Active vs. Passive Voice

In active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action.
- Example: The Tribunal granted the stay. (Here, "the Tribunal" is the active subject performing the action.)
In passive voice, the subject is acted upon by an external entity, which can sometimes obscure the doer of the action.
- Example: The stay was granted by the Tribunal. (In this case, the focus shifts to "the stay," which is the subject receiving the action.)
- Additionally, the subject can be omitted entirely: The stay was granted.

The Role of Passive Voice in Persuasive Writing

Although passive voice can make sentences more complex and less direct, it serves specific purposes in persuasive writing. It may be chosen deliberately to achieve effective communication.

When to Use Passive Voice

To De-emphasize the Actor: Passive voice can be useful when the identity of the actor is less relevant to the message being conveyed. For instance, when discussing sensitive topics like criminal activity, it may be beneficial to minimize the focus on the actor.
- Example: Ravi was stabbed. (This phrasing downplays the stabber, focusing instead on the victim.)
- In contrast, when portraying the prosecution's perspective, an active voice may highlight the defendant’s actions: The Defendant stabbed Ravi with a knife.
When the Actor's Identity is Unknown or Unimportant: Passive voice can also be employed when the doer is not known or not crucial to the context of the discussion.
- Example: The authority was informed that the defendant was a habitual offender. (The focus remains on the information rather than who provided it.)
- Another case could be: A trial run of the new income tax portal was conducted yesterday. (Emphasizing the action rather than the executor enhances clarity regarding the portal itself.)

Conclusion

In summary, while active voice tends to create more straightforward and robust statements, the passive voice serves significant functions in persuasive writing—particularly in emphasizing actions over actors or when the actor's identity is not essential. Understanding when to use each voice can dramatically influence the effectiveness of your communication strategy in various contexts.