# Active vs Passive Voice: Examples & How to Fix It

> In the active voice the subject does the action (“John threw the ball”). In the passive, the action is done to the subject (“The ball was thrown by John”). Active is usually clearer and shorter; passive has its uses.

**URL:** https://humanit.app/writing/active-vs-passive-voice  ·  **Updated:** May 2026  ·  Humanit

In the active voice the subject does the action (“John threw the ball”). In the passive, the action is done to the subject (“The ball was thrown by John”). Active is usually clearer and shorter; passive has its uses. Paste your own sentence into the free checker below to fix it in one click.

## How it works

1. **Spot the pattern** — Look for a “to be” verb (is, was, were, been) followed by a past participle, often with “by…”. If the real doer is missing or stuck at the end, it’s passive.
2. **Apply the rule** — Name the doer and make it the subject: “Mistakes were made” becomes “We made mistakes.” Keep passive only when the doer is unknown or unimportant.
3. **Check your sentence** — Paste your text into the grammar checker below — it flags the issue and shows the correction.
4. **Re-read it** — Read the corrected version aloud to confirm it says exactly what you meant.

## The rule

Active voice puts the doer first: subject → verb → object. Passive voice flips it: the receiver becomes the subject, the verb takes a form of “to be” + past participle, and the doer moves to a “by…” phrase (or vanishes).

## How to spot it

Look for a “to be” verb (is, was, were, been) followed by a past participle, often with “by…”. If the real doer is missing or stuck at the end, it’s passive.

## How to fix it

Name the doer and make it the subject: “Mistakes were made” becomes “We made mistakes.” Keep passive only when the doer is unknown or unimportant.

## The most common mistake

Defaulting to passive to sound formal. It usually adds words and hides who acted — most academic and professional guides prefer active voice. If you’re not sure whether your sentence has the problem, paste it into the checker above — it catches this and explains the fix in plain language.

**Before → after**

| ❌ Incorrect | ✓ Corrected | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The ball was thrown by John. | John threw the ball. | Doer (John) becomes the subject |
| Mistakes were made. | We made mistakes. | Names who acted |
| The report was written by the team. | The team wrote the report. | Shorter and clearer |

## FAQ

**How do I tell active from passive voice?**

Find the verb and ask who is doing the action. If the subject does it, it’s active. If the subject receives it — and you see “to be” + a past participle — it’s passive.

**Is passive voice wrong?**

No. It’s a tool, not an error. Use it when the doer is unknown or beside the point (“The samples were refrigerated”). For most sentences, active reads clearer.

**How do I check my own writing for this?**

Paste your text into the free grammar checker on this page. It flags the issue, suggests a correction, and explains why — so you learn the rule, not just the fix.

**Is it free?**

Yes — your first run needs no account, and a free account adds 5 more, each up to 1,500 words. They are a one-time grant, not a daily allowance. Upgrade for a word pool that removes the per-run cap, or use the free iOS app.

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_Last updated: June 2026._