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active vs passive voice
2 posts
- 05FridayFramework·
I used to think rewriting every passive sentence into active voice improved the copy—until I saw how saying "You entered the wrong password" antagonizes the reader.
The Passive Voice Decision Matrix: Strategic Moments for Concealing the Agent
For years, I redlined every passive sentence into active voice. Yet passive voice is not a grammatical error; it is a strategic lens that pulls focus toward action and outcome.
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- 03WednesdayData·
For years, I bought into the dogma that 'every sentence must be active to keep copy punchy'—until I realized I was writing aggressive error messages that constantly blamed the user.
The Buffer Effect of Passive Voice: When Hiding the Subject Works
For years, I exhausted readers by following the rule of writing every sentence in active voice; yet passive voice serves as a powerful psychological buffer that prevents readers from feeling blamed during errors and crises.
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