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Passive Voice Quotes

Browse 10 quotes about Passive Voice.

Passive Voice Quotes

“...passive voice is better than writing out a humongous number and taking the risk that your readers' brains will be numb by the time they get to the verb.”

Writing Humor Numbers Passive Voice

Book:Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

Source: Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

“Fights were recounted, battles won amid wars sure to be lost; hope was clung to; families were both celebrated and denounced; it was agreed that friends just didn't get it; tears were shed; comfort proffered.”

Pain Suffering John Green The Fault In Our Stars Passive Voice Support Group

Book:The Fault in Our Stars

Source: The Fault in Our Stars

“The very natural tendency to use terms derived from traditional grammar like verb, noun, adjective, passive voice, in describing languages outside of Indo-European is fraught with grave possibilities of misunderstanding.”

Use Language Voice Term Natural Possibility Graves Traditional Tendencies Passive Misunderstanding Grammar Describing Verbs Adjectives Nouns Passive Voice

Book:Language, Thought, and Reality: Selected Writings of Benjamin Lee Whorf

Source: Language, Thought, and Reality: Selected Writings of Benjamin Lee Whorf

“Using the passive voice is always very helpful. Mind you, a lot of that propaganda English emanates from here. The British establishment has always used the passive voice. It's been a weapon of discourse so those who committed terrible acts in the old empire could not be identified.”

Mind Used Voice Terrible Weapons Committed British Propaganda Empires Helpful Establishment Passive Discourse Emanate Passive Voice

Author:John Pilger

“Each time I see a split infinitive, an inconsistent tense structure or the unnecessary use of the passive voice, I blister.”

Use Voice Structure Splits Passive Unnecessary Tense Inconsistent Blisters Infinitive Passive Voice

Author:Sonia Sotomayor

“The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes 'sight-seeing.'”

Source: The Image: A Guide to Pseudo-Events in America

“Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print. Never use a long word where a short one will do. If it is possible to cut a word out always cut it out. Never use the passive voice where you can use the active. Never use a foreign phrase a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.”

Source: Shooting an Elephant: And Other Essays

“Remember to never split an infinitive. The passive voice should never be used. Do not put statements in the negative form. Proofread carefully to see if you words out. And don't start a sentence with a conjugation.”

Ifs Should Remember Form Used Voice Negative Sentences Statements Splits Passive Infinitive Passive Voice

Author:William Safire

“The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive.”

“Some of the worst writing around suffers from inert verbs and the unintended use of the passive voice. Yet the passive voice remains an important arrow in the rhetorical quiver. After all, it exists for a reason.”

Writing Important Reason Use Suffering Voice Worst Remains Passive Arrows Verbs Rhetorical Quiver Passive Voice

Author:Constance Hale