Use you and we, not passive voice

Is it important for your writing to come across as objective?

To sound objective in writing, we're taught remove ourselves. At high school, our science teachers made us write

  • It is considered that not I consider

  • It was found that not We found


But now that we're at work and we want people to quickly understand us, can you see the problem?
 

That objective style

  • takes 4 words to say what 2 words can say

  • hides who is responsible for doing things

  • makes the tone heavy and bureaucratic


It's called the passive voice, and it's the equivalent of wrapping your reader's legs in a bedsheet and making them walk down stairs. Yes – awkward, annoying, inefficient, unnatural.
 

You and we are essential words!

They're one of the easiest ways to create active voice. ('I consider' and 'We found' are examples of active voice.)
 

  • You can still sound objective using you and we

  • Your style guide will tell you to use them

  • Every piece of writing guidance I've ever seen encourages people to use active voice


So next time your writer switch tells you to write 'It was suggested that', remember that claustrophobic bedsheet.

Give your reader a healthy dose of we and you!

Quick recap: what is active and passive?


Download the visual of active and passive voice

👀 Example of passive voice to active

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