If you’ve ever written in a professional capacity, you’ve probably heard of passive voice and heard that it’s “bad.” Editors rail against it. Writing tools like the Hemingway App flag it in red. But why, exactly, is it frowned upon? And are there times when passive voice might actually be the better option?
Let’s break it down in clear terms, with examples and guidance you can apply to any kind of writing, whether you’re working on a novel, a blog post, or an email to your boss.
Understanding passive voice
Passive voice appears when the subject of the sentence has something done to it, rather than doing the action.
For example:
The computer was hacked. Passive.
The hacker broke into the computer. Active.
In the active version, we know exactly who did what. In the passive version, the subject just absorbs the action, and we lose clarity.
Grammatically, passive voice often includes a form of the verb “to be” (was, were, is, etc.) plus a past participle (e.g., was hacked, was written, was slammed).
If you’re unsure if you’re using passive voice in a particular sentence, try this trick: Add “by me” at the end of a sentence.
For example, “The files were deleted by me.” Passive.
Vs. “I deleted the file,” where you can’t add “by me.”
Why passive voice gets a bad rap
There are several reasons editors aren’t in love with the idea of passive voice.
1. Lack of subject clarity
“The door was slammed shut.” Who slammed it shut? If there are multiple people in a scene, it immedately becomes confusing who we’re talking about and whether that person is inside or outside of the current scene.
2. Lack of brevity
I saw a book recently, an action thriller novel, that used the phrase “The trunk was slammed shut.” Here’s a thought. How about: “The trunk slammed shut.” You remove one word and make the sentence flow better and feel more immediate just by moving it out of passive voice.
3. Lack of action
Ultimately, the main reason a lot of professional editors take issue with passive voice is because it’s not as action-oriented, as its name suggests, compared to active voice.
In the sentence “Ron punched the man with all his might,” there’s action. In the sentence “Ron was punched with great force,” the subject of the sentence (Ron) is completely passive. He’s on the receiving end of the punch. It would be better to just say who is punching him, so at least someone is doing a direct action.
This is particularly important with action-thriller-style novels, but it’s also relevant across genres. Passive voice tends to remove urgency. It makes your characters seem reactive instead of decisive. That affects not just pacing, but how your readers connect to the characters. Agency matters.
That said, you shouldn’t make it a rule that you never utilize passive voice. There are legitimate use cases, and those are what we’ll look at next.
Quick break for a romantasy book rec
While we’re on the topic of good writing choices, here’s a quick book rec for you.
If you love romantasy but feel like too many books are heavy on explicit content and light on actual story, you’re not alone. That’s one of the reasons I wrote Loyalty Fallen.
It’s a fantasy series that puts plot, politics, and character arcs first without relying on constant spice to keep you turning the page. You’ll still find tension, betrayal, and a bodyguard romance, but the story always leads. Specifically, it’s the story of a princess who is falsely accused of her husband’s murder on their wedding night and becomes a fugitive in a war-torn kingdom with only one man standing between her and death.
Books one and two are available for free here on loyaltyfallen.com, and book one is also launching as an ebook on July 1st.
Now, let’s get back to the writing tips.
When to use passive voice
Not every sentence needs to be active. There are legitimate, even strategic, reasons to use passive voice.
1. To convey mystery
If your detective doesn’t know who did it, she won’t say: “John murdered the woman.” She’ll say: “The woman was murdered.”
It’s a simple way to preserve mystery and avoid adding awkward placeholder language like “Someone” or “Something.”
2. When a character wants to avoid accountability
Passive voice is a favorite tool of the evasive speaker. Politicians, PR reps, and even average employees use it to sidestep blame.
“The report got lost.”
Translation: I lost the report, but I’d rather not say so.
It mirrors how people naturally speak when they’re avoiding responsibility, so it’s a great character or dialogue device.
3. When the focus belongs on the object or action
This one is a lot more subjective, but sometimes the what is more important than the who.
For example, “The experimental drug had to be administered every three hours.” The focus here is on the experimental drug, not the people administering it.
This is especially common in scientific, technical, or academic writing, where the process or result often matters more than the actors behind it.
Final thoughts
Passive voice isn’t inherently wrong. It’s just often overused or misused. When your characters need agency, your scenes need clarity, or your sentences need punch, active voice should be your go-to. But when you want to add mystery, mirror real-life deflection, or highlight a result over the actor, passive voice has its place.
So next time you write a sentence, ask yourself: Who’s doing the action? If you don’t know, or it’s unclear, consider flipping it around.
You may notice that your writing becomes far more gripping and action-based as you make this your daily practice. And if you’ve gotten this far, please also subscribe to the blog to keep up to date on more advice, updates, and the next book in the Loyalty Fallen series.
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