#Active April 26

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Today’s #Coach4aday post is on writing using ACTIVE sentences.

(Passive)

Often when I compose an entry for my blog on WordPress it will inform me that my writing has too many passive sentences. It wants me to edit my draft to improve my SEO . Writers should attempt to author words that are active sentences. I still struggle many days. One of the biggest challenges I encounter is recognizing when my writing is using passive voice. This can take some practice. The above was my first attempt.

The paragraph above had too much passivity, so I edited it. That is the effort in becoming a better writer.

(Active)

WordPress often informs me that my writing has too many passive sentences when I compose a blog entry. To improve my SEO, I must edit my draft and attempt to author active sentences. Recognizing passive voice remains one of my biggest challenges as a writer, and it requires practice. I still struggle with it many days.

Passive vs. Active

When a subject does the action, it is active. When the subject is being acted upon by an object it becomes passive.

Clever authors know something I am going to attempt moving forward.

1. Identify the subject and verb: Look for the subject and verb in the sentence and make sure the subject is the one performing the action. If the subject is not performing the action, consider rephrasing the sentence to make it active.
2. Use active verbs: Choose strong and specific verbs that show the subject performing an action. This can help make your writing more engaging and interesting to read. Thesaurus is a good resource.
3. Focus on clarity: Make sure your sentences are clear and easy to understand. Use simple and direct language to avoid confusion and ambiguity. Remember that active writing is often more concise and straightforward than passive writing.