How does active voice impact the clarity of your writing?

1 Active Basics

Active voice is the grammatical construction where the subject of a sentence performs the verb's action. It is a fundamental aspect of business writing that contributes to clarity and conciseness. When you write "You must submit the proposal by Friday," it's clear and urgent. The active voice makes it evident who is responsible for the action and when it needs to happen. This directness is crucial in business communications, where messages must be understood quickly and acted upon effectively.

4 Engagement Enhancer

Using active voice not only clarifies your message but also increases engagement. When you write "You can improve your sales techniques," it directly addresses your reader, making the advice more personal and actionable. In contrast, "Sales techniques can be improved," feels impersonal and passive. Active sentences foster a connection between the writer and reader, making the communication more dynamic and persuasive.

5 Brevity Benefit

Active voice contributes to brevity in writing, a valued quality in business communications where time is often limited. Sentences constructed in active voice are typically more concise than their passive counterparts. For instance, "The CEO approved the budget" is shorter and more straightforward than "The budget was approved by the CEO." This conciseness allows you to convey more information in less space, making your writing more efficient and easier to digest.

6 Persuasion Power

The persuasive power of active voice lies in its ability to make statements more forceful and authoritative. In business communications, asserting confidence is key to influencing others. Sentences like "Our company will lead the market" are more compelling than "The market will be led by our company," which sounds hesitant. By using active voice, you can make a stronger impression and more effectively persuade your audience.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?