In the last post, we talked about when we could use the passive construction. And now we are going to talk when we must avoid it. It will be helpfull for you when you write an academic writting. Let's get into business!
1. Passive sentences can get you into trouble in academic writing because they can be vague about who is responsible for the action: Both Othello and Iago desire Desdemona. She is courted. [Who courts Desdemona? Othello? Iago? Both of them?]
2. Academic writing often focuses on differences between the ideas of different researchers, or between your own ideas and those of the researchers you are discussing. Too many passive sentences can create confusion: Research has been done to discredit this theory. [Who did the research? You? Your professor? Another author?]
3. Some students use passive sentences to hide holes in their research: The telephone was invented in the nineteenth century. [I couldn't find out who invented the telephone!]
4. Finally, passive sentences often sound wordy and indirect. They can make the reader work unnecessarily hard. And since they are usually longer than active sentences, passive sentences take up precious room in your paper: Since the car was being driven by Michael at the time of the accident, the damages should be paid for by him.
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