Avoid Dead Verbs
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JoeNavy Staff
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Published on 06/9/2008
They make writing wordy, roundabout, and sometimes downright confusing. To avoid this infectious disease, learn how to spot passive verbs and make them active.
Avoid Dead Verbs
They make writing wordy, roundabout, and sometimes downright confusing. To avoid this infectious disease, learn how to spot passive verbs and make them active:
Doctor: When did you first notice your use of verbs in the passive?
Patient: The utilization was first noticed by me shortly after they Navy was entered. The Marine Corps has been joined by my brother. The same condition has been remarked on by him.
Doctor: Did you know that most of the verbs we speak with are active? So are most of the verbs in the newspapers and magazines, the kinds of writing we like to read.
Patient: Well, it is believed by me that most verbs are made passive by naval writers. In the letters and directives that have been prepared by this speaker, passive verbs have been utilized extensively. Are problems caused?
Doctor: Yes, problems are caused. Or rather, passives cause problems.
Most of your sentences should use a who-does-what order. By leading with the doer, you automatically will avoid a passive verb:
Passive: The ship was inspected by the skipper.
Active: The skipper inspected the ship.
If you heard the unnatural sound of the patient's passives and know to lead with doers, you needn't read on. But the following technical discussion may be helpful.
Article Reference:
SECNAVINST 5216.5
Doctor: When did you first notice your use of verbs in the passive?
Patient: The utilization was first noticed by me shortly after they Navy was entered. The Marine Corps has been joined by my brother. The same condition has been remarked on by him.
Doctor: Did you know that most of the verbs we speak with are active? So are most of the verbs in the newspapers and magazines, the kinds of writing we like to read.
Patient: Well, it is believed by me that most verbs are made passive by naval writers. In the letters and directives that have been prepared by this speaker, passive verbs have been utilized extensively. Are problems caused?
Doctor: Yes, problems are caused. Or rather, passives cause problems.
Most of your sentences should use a who-does-what order. By leading with the doer, you automatically will avoid a passive verb:
Passive: The ship was inspected by the skipper.
Active: The skipper inspected the ship.
If you heard the unnatural sound of the patient's passives and know to lead with doers, you needn't read on. But the following technical discussion may be helpful.
Article Reference:
SECNAVINST 5216.5