GoodWordEditing.com - Latest Comments in Sentence Tip #5 - A Passive Blog Slams No Dunks

Re: Sentence Tip #5 - A Passive Blog Slams No Dunks

Eve Nielsen — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 18:33:28 -0000

*grin*

Re: Sentence Tip #5 - A Passive Blog Slams No Dunks

Marcus — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 17:38:38 -0000

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. : )

Re: Sentence Tip #5 - A Passive Blog Slams No Dunks

Eve Nielsen — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 16:30:31 -0000

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*

Re: Sentence Tip #5 - A Passive Blog Slams No Dunks

L.L. Barkat — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 14:40:23 -0000

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.

Re: Sentence Tip #5 - A Passive Blog Slams No Dunks

Craver-VII — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 14:00:52 -0000

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)

Re: Sentence Tip #5 - A Passive Blog Slams No Dunks

Marcus — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 14:00:28 -0000

L.L., we would never torture an angel like that. You on the other hand...

Re: Sentence Tip #5 - A Passive Blog Slams No Dunks

Marcus — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 13:59:49 -0000

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!

Re: Sentence Tip #5 - A Passive Blog Slams No Dunks

L.L. Barkat — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 13:30:14 -0000

Shaving cream, peanut butter?!

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

Re: Sentence Tip #5 - A Passive Blog Slams No Dunks

Eve Nielsen — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 12:34:39 -0000

Good grief Marcus-don't cut down your post! We need something to read!!

Re: Sentence Tip #5 - A Passive Blog Slams No Dunks

Marcus — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 09:35:53 -0000

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!

Re: Sentence Tip #5 - A Passive Blog Slams No Dunks

Stacy — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:11:26 -0000

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

Re: Sentence Tip #5 - A Passive Blog Slams No Dunks

Marcus — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:08:16 -0000

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...

Re: Sentence Tip #5 - A Passive Blog Slams No Dunks

Craver-VII — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:43:47 -0000

(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...

Re: Sentence Tip #5 - A Passive Blog Slams No Dunks

L.L. Barkat — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:33:47 -0000

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]).

Re: Sentence Tip #5 - A Passive Blog Slams No Dunks

Craver-VII — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:25:01 -0000

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

Re: Sentence Tip #5 - A Passive Blog Slams No Dunks

Marcus — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:01:22 -0000

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.

: )

Re: Sentence Tip #5 - A Passive Blog Slams No Dunks

Marcus — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:59:11 -0000

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.

Re: Sentence Tip #5 - A Passive Blog Slams No Dunks

Eve Nielsen — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:04:03 -0000

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).

Re: Sentence Tip #5 - A Passive Blog Slams No Dunks

Craver-VII — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 13:10:19 -0000

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.