If you are a writer, student, or professional, you must have heard about passive voice. Passive voice is a writing style that is widely used, but it can lead to confusion and poor readability. Passive voice sentences are those where the subject is the recipient of the action rather than the agent. For example, "The car was repaired by the mechanic" instead of "The mechanic repaired the car."
This blog post will guide you on how to check for passive voice in Word Mac. Checking for passive voice is essential as it reduces wordiness, increases readability, and strengthens the clarity of your writing. Whether you are writing essays, articles, or reports, passive voice affects the tone of your work, making it critical to identify and fix it.
Video Tutorial:
The Challenge of Checking for Passive Voice in Word Mac
Checking for passive voice may seem easy, but it can be time-consuming and challenging, especially when you have a lengthy document. Passive voice can be hard to spot, and manually checking for all instances can be tiresome. However, you can use several methods to ease the process and ensure that your document is free from passive voice.
Things You Should Prepare for
Before checking for passive voice, it’s essential to prepare the document. Ensure that the document is saved and closed from any other application. The following steps can streamline the process of checking for passive voice:
1. Activate the spelling and grammar checking option in Word Mac. You can do this by pressing the "Command+Shift+;" button.
2. Make a backup of your file to avoid any mistakes during the revision process.
3. Familiarize yourself with the Word Mac tools. You will need to use the "Find and Replace" feature, which is available in the Edit menu.
4 Methods to Check for Passive Voice in Word Mac
Method 1: Using the "Find" Feature
1. Open the document you want to check for passive voice.
2. Press "Command+F" to activate the Find feature.
3. Type in the word "by" and press enter. Word will highlight all instances of sentences using the passive voice construction. You can revise the sentences to be more active.
Pros:
– This method is straightforward and quick.
– It shows all instances of passive constructions.
Cons:
– It may not show all instances of passive voice and might need additional checking.
Method 2: Using the Hemingway App
1. Open a web browser and go to the Hemingway App website.
2. Copy and paste the text you want to check into the website.
3. The app will highlight the passive voice instances in your text, making it easy to identify and revise.
Pros:
– The Hemingway App checks for other aspects of writing and gives recommendations, not just for passive voice.
Cons:
– It only works with short texts, not entire documents.
Method 3: Using the ProWritingAid Add-in
1. Open Word Mac and navigate to the Add-Ins tab in the ribbon.
2. Click on "Get Add-Ins" and search for ProWritingAid.
3. Download and install the add-in.
4. Open your document and click on the ProWritingAid add-in. Select the "Check for Style" option.
5. Select the "Passive Voice" option to highlight all instances of passive voice.
Pros:
– ProWritingAid checks for other aspects of writing, including grammar and spelling.
– It works for entire documents.
Cons:
– ProWritingAid is not a free tool, and you need to buy a subscription to use it.
Method 4: Using Grammarly
1. Open Grammarly on your browser and create an account.
2. Copy and paste the text you want to check into the Grammarly text editor.
3. Grammarly will highlight all instances of passive voice.
Pros:
– Grammarly checks for other aspects of writing, including spelling and grammar.
– It works for entire documents.
Cons:
– Grammarly is not a free tool, and you need to buy a subscription to use it.
Why Can’t I Check for Passive Voice?
1. Lack of understanding of passive voice.
2. The text has too many complex sentence structures.
3. Poor writing habits and inconsistencies.
Fixes:
– Research on passive and active voice constructions.
– Simplify sentence constructions and limit the use of complex sentence structures.
– Develop a writing habit that embraces active voice constructions.
Additional Tips
Here are additional tips to help you write in active voice:
– Use strong active verbs to convey meaning.
– Ensure that the agent performing the action in the sentence is clear.
– Avoid overuse of linking verbs such as "is," "was," and "were."
5 FAQs on Checking For Passive Voice in Word Mac
Q1. What is the difference between active and passive voice?
A1. Active voice is where the subject of a sentence performs an action, while passive voice is where the subject of the sentence is receiving the action.
Q2. Why is passive voice discouraged?
A2. Passive voice can make sentences wordy and inefficient. It also creates a sense of distance between the reader and the writer.
Q3. Can passive voice be appropriate in some cases?
A3. Yes, passive voice can be useful when the agent of the action is unknown or irrelevant.
Q4. How do I know if my writing has too much passive voice?
A4. You can use automated tools such as the ones mentioned in this blog post, or ask a trusted colleague to review your work.
Q5. Is it possible to use passive voice and still write well?
A5. Yes, it’s possible to use passive voice in writing, but it requires a lot of practice and skill to do so effectively.
Conclusion
Checking for passive voice in Word Mac is essential in ensuring that your writing is clear and easy to read. In this blog post, we have provided four methods that you can use to check for passive voice in Word Mac. We have also highlighted the reasons why you might struggle with passive voice as well as additional writing tips to help you write effectively in active voice. By following these steps, you can improve the clarity and readability of your writing.