Convert Passive Voice To Active Voice With This Free Tool

If you’re a writer, you may have encountered the passive voice. This rule of prose is disliked by many but wanted by publishers of mainstream fiction. 

The problem is, we naturally speak in a passive voice, so changing our language can be tricky.

However, we live in a modern age with technology at our disposal. And inspired by my shared dislike of the passive voice, I decided to make a free converter tool. 

Below, you can paste your passive sentences into the textbox and click the convert button. In a second or two it’ll give you a version rewritten in the active voice. 

As well as the tool, you can find lots of helpful information to help you master this potentially tricksy area of writing. Let’s start with the foundations.

What Is The Passive Voice?

Passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of the sentence is the recipient of the action, rather than the doer of the action. In other words, the passive voice shifts the focus from the agent or performer of the action to the action itself or the receiver of the action.

To form a passive sentence, we use the auxiliary verb “to be” followed by the past participle of the main verb. For instance, “The cake was baked by the chef” is a passive sentence, where “the cake “is the receiver of the action (being baked) and “the chef” is the agent or performer of the action.

Here are a few more examples of passive sentences and why they’re considered passive:

  • The letter was written by John. (Passive because the subject, “the letter,” is the receiver of the action, and the agent or doer of the action, “John,” comes after the verb.)
  • The car was stolen last night. (Passive because the subject, “the car,” is the receiver of the action, and the agent or doer of the action is not specified in the sentence.)
  • The report will be submitted by the end of the week. (Passive because the subject, “the report,” is the receiver of the action, and the agent or doer of the action, “the person who will submit it,” is introduced by the preposition “by.”)

In general, passive voice is useful when the emphasis is on the action or when the agent is unknown or unimportant. However, using passive voice too frequently can make writing vague or convoluted, so it’s important to use it judiciously.

In the world of fiction writing, publishers and agents seek works written predominantly in an active voice. So let’s take a look at what that is.

Find Out More About Passive Voice Misuse Here

What Is The Active Voice?

Active voice is another grammatical construction where the subject of the sentence performs the action, rather than receiving it. In other words, the active voice puts the focus on the agent or performer of the action rather than the action itself or the receiver of the action.

To form an active sentence, we use the subject followed by the verb and the object. For instance, “The chef baked the cake” is an active sentence, where “the chef” is the agent or performer of the action (baking) and “the cake” is the receiver of the action.

Here are a few more examples of active sentences and why they are considered active:

  • John wrote the letter. (Active because the subject, “John,” performs the action, “wrote,” and the object, “the letter,” receives the action.)
  • The thief stole the car last night. (Active because the subject, “the thief,” performs the action, “stole,” and the object, “the car,” receives the action.)
  • I will submit the report by the end of the week. (Active because the subject, “I,” performs the action, “will submit,” and the object, “the report,” receives the action.)

In general, active voice is more direct, concise, and engaging than passive voice. It creates a clearer and more dynamic sentence structure.

Active voice is particularly useful when the agent or performer of the action is important or when the emphasis is on the action itself rather than the receiver of the action.

More Examples Of Active Voice Versus Passive Voice

Below, you can find a very handy infographic that offers lots of examples of the active and passive voice.

passive voice detector and converter

How Can A Passive Voice Detector Help?

A passive voice detector tool, such as the one above, can be a valuable resource for writers who want to improve their fiction writing. This tool uses algorithms and the latest models of artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze your writing and identify instances where the passive voice is used. However, it doesn’t just highlight the problem sentence, you have the option to convert it to active voice instead.

One of the main benefits of using a passive voice detector tool is that it can help writers to create more engaging and dynamic prose. Fiction writing is all about immersing the reader in the story and creating a sense of tension and drama. Using the active voice, where the subject is performing the action, can create a more immediate and visceral experience for the reader; they can more easily visualize the action unfolding in front of them.

Additionally, using the active voice can help writers to convey a greater sense of agency and control over their characters and their fictional worlds. By emphasizing the actions of the characters, writers can create a more vivid and dynamic sense of the story’s events, helping the reader to become more invested in them and their journeys.

Of course, it’s important to use the passive voice at times, particularly in instances where the agent of the action is not important or needs to be downplayed. However, by using a passive voice detector tool, writers can ensure that they’re using the passive voice intentionally and in a way that serves the story, rather than simply defaulting to it out of habit (which is very easy to do!).

Using The Passive Voice Converter Function

A passive voice converter tool is a valuable tool for writers, particularly those who are struggling to get to grips with passive voice in their fiction writing. The tool above allows you to quickly and easily identify and convert passive voice constructions to active voice, which can help improve the overall clarity, readability, and impact of their writing.

In fiction writing, passive voice constructions can often lead to weaker, less engaging prose. Passive voice can make it difficult for readers to understand the action and who is performing it, which can hinder their ability to engage with the story. Additionally, it can make writing seem distant and detached, which can detract from the emotional impact of the story.

By using a passive voice converter tool, writers can identify and correct these constructions quickly and efficiently. The tool will highlight any passive voice constructions in the text and offer suggestions for how to rephrase the sentence in active voice, providing a more direct and engaging narrative. This can help writers create stronger characters and more engaging storylines, ultimately leading to a more compelling piece of fiction.

And by using this tool regularly, you can develop a better understanding of how passive voice works and how to avoid it in your writing. This can help develop a more natural and engaging writing style, ultimately leading to more polished and effective fiction writing.

Use The Free Passive Voice Converter

 



 

Learn More About Writing Prose

If you’d like to learn more about writing prose, check out some of the guides below:

If you have any questions about using this passive voice detector and converter, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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