On Monday we put on our grammar hats and looked at the difference between the active and passive voices. We also discovered that the active voice is usually the best way to go.

With all this new knowledge, we’re ready to start putting the active voice into action.

Here’s a letter that could do with our attention:

The writer has used the passive voice throughout this letter. Once you start using the passive, it’s hard to get out of the habit…

The result is a rather impersonal tone and a few key gaps in the information for the reader. It’s not clear who will be looking after the reader’s child. It all sounds a bit vague and uncaring, which is not exactly what you’d want for your child’s school.

Let’s see if we can help this writer bring some warmth and clarity back with the active voice:

By introducing the active voice, we’ve also introduced Mrs Gill, the teacher. Now we know who is going to be registering the children and taking them to their classroom.

We’ve also addressed the parents directly by asking them to bring and collect their children, rather than simply implying this via the passive voice. It’s all sounding much friendlier.

Using the active voice can transform your writing. Most of the time…

Come back on Monday for three dilemmas that only the passive voice can resolve…