How to Write Better Essays

Professor Jenkins and Doctor Taylor of University College, London,

last month achieved the most significant breakthrough yet in the

treatment of colon cancer

would be better in the passive voice:

The most significant breakthrough yet in the treatment of colon

cancer was achieved last month by Professor Jenkins and Doctor

Taylor of University College, London

because the most important fact in the statement, what has been

achieved, has been placed at the front of the sentence, and the doers

at the back.

Style – Economy 219

Practice exercise 19

Passive or Active?

Listed below you will find three pairs of statements. Rewrite each pair

into a single sentence in either the active or the passive form. Choose

which you think is the most appropriate in each case and then briefly

give your reasons for your choices.

Once you’ve finished, compare your choices and the reasons you’ve

given with those in the answer below.

Statements

1 Nigel Brown scored the goal.

The decisive goal was scored in the last minute of the game.

2 Chief Justice Taylor was driving home.

He was stopped by the police and found to be driving under the

influence of alcohol.

3 John Douglas was stopped on his way home and robbed at knife

point.

He was robbed by a gang of eleven-year-olds.

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