Many writing tools flag "passive voice," but it isn't a grammar mistake. It's a style choice. Knowing when to use it makes your writing clearer.
Active vs. passive #
In the active voice, the subject does the action:
The team fixed the bug.
In the passive voice, the subject receives the action:
The bug was fixed (by the team).
How to spot the passive voice #
Look for a form of be (is, are, was, were, been, being) plus a past participle (fixed, sent, made, written).
- The email was sent.
- Mistakes were made.
- The report is being reviewed.
A quick test: if you can add "by zombies" after the verb and the sentence still works, it's passive. The email was sent (by zombies).
Why active is usually better #
Active sentences are shorter, more direct, and say who is responsible.
| Passive | Active |
|---|---|
| The meeting was canceled by the manager. | The manager canceled the meeting. |
| Your request has been received. | We received your request. |
| It was decided that prices would rise. | We decided to raise prices. |
When passive is the right choice #
- The doer is unknown or unimportant: My bike was stolen.
- The action matters more than who did it: The app was downloaded a million times.
- Scientific or formal writing: The samples were heated to 80°C.
- Tact: A mistake was made in your invoice sounds softer than You made a mistake.
How to rewrite a passive sentence #
- Find who does the action (often after by).
- Make that the subject.
- Use an active verb.
The document was reviewed by Anna. → Anna reviewed the document.
Get clearer sentences #
When a sentence feels heavy, check it again in AI Grammar Checker for a paraphrase that reads more directly.