Active The subject is the "doer" of the action	Passive The subject is the "receiver" of the action
Health professionals recommend that people exercise regularly.	It is recommended by health professionals that people exercise regularly.
Many colleagues attended Nan's farewell party.	Nan's farewell party was attended by many colleagues.
Someone alerted the police.	The police were alerted.

Tip #1: Clues to the passive voice

• A form of the verb "to be" (is, are, was, were, etc.) combined with a past participle. (A past participle is a verb form ending in "ed," with some exceptions such as "shown," "written," or the examples listed below.)
  Example: Have been, were seen, was taken, was hired.



• Lack of a "doer" or "actor".
  Example: The man's concentration was disturbed.
  


• A "by" phrase.
  Example: Several patients were seen by the doctor.

Tip #2: Ways to make sentences active

• Turn the clause or sentence around.

Change...	To...
A mysterious package was delivered by UPS.	UPS delivered a mysterious package.

• Rewrite the sentence.

Change...	To...
No deliveries will be made on Sunday.	Beck's delivers daily, except on Sunday.

• Insert a subject.

Change...	To...
The dog needs to be walked.	Sally needs to walk the dog.

Tip #3: Exceptions: Use the passive voice

• When you don't know who did something.
  Example: A basket of breakfast foods was left on the new neighbor's front steps.



• To protect a person or organization.
  Example: Celebrity telephone numbers were given out in error.
  


• To put emphasis on the object of the action instead of on the "actor."
  Example: Dell computers are considered to be of the highest quality.

Is passive voice construction incorrect?

Although passive voice construction is grammatically correct, it often results in indirect, wordy, and sometimes vague sentences.

Should you totally avoid using it?

Do use occasional passive voice construction to add fluency and balance to your writing; however, aim for writing in the active voice about 80 percent of the time. Note that most scientific, technical, or legal writing is passive because the purpose is to emphasize a process or principle instead of the "actor."

Focus on identifying your passive sentences when you are proofreading your document instead of when you are drafting it. The grammar check tool will help you find them. Then you can decide which ones should be converted to the active voice and which ones serve a better purpose by remaining passive.