How do you edit and revise your scientific writing to improve your use of active and passive voice?

Identify passive voice and switch to active for clarity. Use passive when focusing on action or when the doer is less important.

Active and passive voice are grammatical constructs that indicate the relationship between the subject and the verb of a sentence. In the active voice, the subject performs the action of the verb, such as "The researcher conducted the experiment." In the passive voice, the subject receives the action of the verb, for example, "The experiment was conducted by the researcher." Active voice is generally preferred in scientific writing for its directness, conciseness, and engagement. However, passive voice can be appropriate when the agent of the action is unknown, irrelevant, or obvious.

In most of the scientific literature, passive voice is more prevalent than active voice. However, the use of either is entirely subjective and depends on their appropriateness. For example, Isopropanol precipitated the DNA or The DNA was precipitated by Isopropanol. Which one do you think is more appropriate?

To identify whether a sentence is in active or passive voice, look for clues such as the presence of a by-phrase, the form of the verb, and the position of the subject. A by-phrase often indicates passive voice, as it shows who performed the action, e.g., "The results were analyzed by a software program." The form of the verb also reveals the voice; passive voice typically uses a form of "to be" followed by a past participle, such as "The samples were collected." The position of the subject is also telling; in active voice, the subject comes before the verb, while in passive voice, the subject usually follows the verb.

In active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action. Identify the action in the sentence and determine who or what is performing the action.

To revise passive voice to active voice, identify the agent of the action and make it the subject of the sentence, then change the form of the verb to match the new subject. For example, "The data was entered into a spreadsheet" can be revised to "A research assistant entered the data into a spreadsheet." However, avoid forcing active voice if it makes the sentence awkward or unclear. For example, "The temperature was measured every hour" should not be revised to "We measured the temperature every hour" if the measurement was not actually performed by "us."

Passive voice is not always inappropriate in scientific writing. It can be suitable when you want to emphasize the object or outcome of the action rather than the agent. For instance, use passive voice to highlight main findings, such as "A significant correlation was found between X and Y." It can also help avoid personal pronouns or subjective statements, which may weaken credibility or objectivity. For example, passive voice is useful in method sections: "The samples were randomly assigned to two groups."

Balancing active and passive voice in scientific writing involves considering your purpose, audience, and context. Use active voice for clarity, conciseness, and engagement, and passive voice for objectivity, caution, or respectfulness. Avoid overusing either voice to prevent monotonous, vague, or confusing writing. Aim for a variety and coherence of voice that suits your message and field. Reading your writing aloud or asking for feedback from a peer or editor can help ensure a balanced use of both voices.

Consider whether each choice, either active or passive voice serves your purpose in conveying information effectively. This is the main goal of any communication.

To further refine your use of active and passive voice, follow these additional tips: Use common and appropriate words. 1. Avoid unnecessary jargon and abbreviations. 2. Avoid repetition of phrases and words. 3. Use punctuation correctly. 4. Avoid phrases like "It is" and "There are," as they often lead to passive constructions. For example, "There were several students discussing the chapter" can be revised to "Several students discussed the chapter."

I follow certain points taught by my teachers: 1) Use of most common and appropriate words 2) Avoid unnecessary jargons 3) Avoid any short forms in the abstract 4) Avoid repetitions for phrases and words 5) Use of punctuations wherever required.

One correction a doctoral professor gave us was to avoid the use of "It is" and "there are." To this day when I read scientific writing I still find myself looking for ways to rephrase the sentence to avoid those shortcuts. Often a person can write an active sentence without too much trouble. For example, "There were several students discussing the chapter." This can be written, "Several students were discussing the chapter." Another example is - "There are many types of solutions." This can be written - Many types of solutions exist." or "Many types of solutions are available." I love writing and usually excel at it. These are a couple examples to improve scientific writing.