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Sentence Tip #5 - A Passive Blog Slams No Dunks

Started by goodwordediting · 9 months ago

A paragraph filled with passive voice is like wimpy basketball.
According to my son’s favorite book (Balls!), basketball was originally a low scoring game. Coaches valued defense. The game moved slowly. Most players attempted shots with two hands ... Continue reading »

19 comments

  • Craver-VII

    2 years ago

    I need to look over things I've written, but I'll guess I use passive sentences a lot. Why? It must be the politician thing. Whenever I talk about an issue that I think might offend, the passive sentences are an attempt to take the edge off.

    I wonder if I overuse that style and what the responses might be if I were more bold.
    reply
  • Eve Nielsen

    2 years ago

    am
    is
    are
    was
    were
    be
    being
    been
    have
    has
    had
    do
    does
    did
    shall
    will
    should
    would
    may
    might
    must
    can
    could
    ...sorry, couldn't help myself :) I memorized these state of being verbs in elementary school and it just rolled off the tip of my mind.

    I'm gonna check my work (not passively either).
    reply
  • Marcus

    2 years ago

    Craver, you are anything but passive, man. I think the key is what you said at the end... "Whenever I talk about an issue that I think might offend, the passive sentences are an attempt to take the edge off."

    It's more important that you have a reason for doing it. A lot of the bad prose I see comes from people (great writers with great ideas!) who don't understand the rhetorical effects of passive voice--both positive and negative.

    Definitely passive voice allows us to qualify a statement and make it more acceptable to certain readers. In the context of blogging, that can be really important.
    reply
  • Marcus

    2 years ago

    Eve, you make me laugh! I have to point out that not all of those verbs create passive voice. Only the independent forms of "to be" (up through been.)

    For example, "I have posted a response to both Craver and Eve" is not passive, just past tense.

    : )
    reply
  • Craver-VII

    2 years ago

    Wait. "Sentence tips." Shouldn't the tips be on the ends of the sentences? (File that one under heckling.)
    reply
  • L.L. Barkat

    2 years ago

    All this activity is making me tired. I am tired by all this activity. Either way, I'm tired. Shoot. Myself must need a nap.

    (Mind if I snooze? Your blog is looking more cozy now, as it used to... no headings where the tips or tops or ends or ups or downs should be. Everything is where it was and were [sigh of contentment]).
    reply
  • Craver-VII

    2 years ago

    (whispering) She's asleep. Aah, doesn't she look like an angel? The poor thing must have been so tuckered-out.
    (sigh)
    Okay, I will need shaving cream and a feather...
    reply
  • Marcus

    2 years ago

    L.L., activity? I love activity! Gimme stuff to do. Gimme weeds to pull. [Yawn] Gimme a bed. It's almost midnight!

    Craver, don't forget the peanut butter...
    reply
  • Stacy

    2 years ago

    Marcus,

    Thanks for keeping me thinking about how I am presenting my writing to others! I'm headed back to analyze right this minute. :)

    Stacy
    reply
  • Marcus

    2 years ago

    I appreciate the feedback, Stacy. Yesterday I regretted the length of this post. I should probably cut it in half--and may do so next week.

    I'm glad you found it useful.

    And remember that checking for passive voice is very much a part of the editing process, not the writing process. Don't worry about passive voice when you are drafting. Just get the draft down!
    reply
  • Eve Nielsen

    2 years ago

    Good grief Marcus-don't cut down your post! We need something to read!!
    reply
  • L.L. Barkat

    2 years ago

    Shaving cream, peanut butter?!

    Now, is that any way to treat an angel? (The feather part seemed acceptable.)
    reply
  • Marcus

    2 years ago

    Eve, I didn't mean cut it in half and toss one half. I meant cut it in half and post it in two pieces. Thanks for the encouragement though!
    reply
  • Marcus

    2 years ago

    L.L., we would never torture an angel like that. You on the other hand...
    reply
  • Craver-VII

    2 years ago

    Good grief! LL, you're a mess! Eve and I tried to talk him out of it, but you know Mark wanted to be all "active" and "slam dunk," and there was no stopping him.
    (looking away, and innocently whistling a random tune)
    reply
  • L.L. Barkat

    2 years ago

    No problem guys, I understand. Now, just don't go to sleep okay? The little revenge elves that come out at night are armed with lipstick, rouge, mascara, and green hair goop.
    reply
  • Eve Nielsen

    2 years ago

    Hey, LL-I hear plastic wrap on the toilet seat works wonders too *grin*

    Sorry, Craver-you're on your own with this mess. (*whisperin*Oh! I have clippers here, LL-do you think Mark or Craver would look better with a mohawk. Teehee!)

    Markus (I decided to meld your two sign-in names), I'm so glad you're not cutting back on content-but it still means we get less to read *stomping her foot*
    reply
  • Marcus

    2 years ago

    All I have to say is this. New post tomorrow! And bonus post this weekend!

    You know, when people hijack the comments like this, I can feel the love. : )
    reply
  • Eve Nielsen

    2 years ago

    *grin*
    reply

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