Get active!

Want to sound more like a native-English writer? Need to put some spark back into your words and tighten up your text? Learn how to give your writing a native edge using the active voice.

One of the surest ways to turn off an English-speaking audience is to write in the passive voice. This is especially relevant in Denmark, since the Danish language uses the passive voice a lot.

But in English, the passive voice is harder to understand, leads to longer, more complex sentences and is simply not the norm – and therefore doesn't sound like native English.

While there is nothing grammatically wrong with the passive voice, it's a question of style. The active voice will help you deliver clear, concise, vigorous, engaging writing – exactly what you're aiming for.

Take the snail out of your sentences
Check out these examples to see how the active voice can strengthen your writing:

1. Clarity and simplicity
Passive: An editorial team, representing all three organizations, has been created.
Active: We’ve created an editorial team to represent all three organizations.

2. Vigor and appeal
Passive: A new campaign was launched by the marketing team, and a dramatic increase in sales was experienced. 
Active: The marketing team launched a new campaign, and sales increased dramatically.

When is passive okay?
There are, of course, some exceptions. Here are some cases when it is suitable – and perhaps even desirable – to use the passive voice:

1. To prevent identifying the actor in a sentence
Passive: The employee was let go due to staff reorganization. (Avoids placing blame on anyone.) (This is also common in scientific writing.)

2. To emphasize the most important part of a sentence
Passive: The agency should not be blamed for the product recall. (Emphasizes the agency, rather than a vague subject such as "we".)

3. To get to the verb more quickly
Passive: The new website format was mandated by our customers, investors, employees, board of directors and other valued stakeholders. (Avoids starting the sentence with a complex, multi-part subject.)

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Going native
When in doubt, always use the active voice. It will vastly improve your writing and make your English sound more like the real deal.