Active Vs Passive Voice in Research Article Writing

Introduction to Active and Passive Voices in Research Articles

Active and passive voices refer to the sentence construction used. In active voice, the subject performs an action and is the grammatical agent of a sentence. In passive voice, the subject is not present in a sentence or does not do anything; instead, it is acted on by another verb or word.

It is important to use active voice in research articles because it makes sentences more concise. Passive voice should only be used when it is necessary to emphasize an actor or hide its identity for some reason.

Active voice is when the subject is doing something to an object. Passive voice is when there is no action in the sentence.

Both active and passive voices are grammatically correct. However, when writing in passive voice, readers are more likely to get lost or have a difficult time understanding what actually happened.

The best way to avoid confusion with passive voice is to make sure that the verb agrees with who or what you want as your subject and that you include any important information that was omitted by using an introductory phrase or clause.

The “Zombie Scientist” Trap: Why Passive Voice is Killing Your Acceptance Rate

Read this sentence:

• “The experiment was conducted by the researcher, and it was found that the data was significant.”

Now read this one:

• “I conducted the experiment and found significant data.”

The first sentence sounds like a robot wrote it. The second sentence sounds like a leader.

For decades, Malaysian universities (especially older faculties at UM and UKM) taught students a strict rule: “Never use ‘I’. Always use Passive Voice.” They believed this made the writing sound “objective” and “humble.”

That rule is dying.

In 2026, High-Impact Journals (Scopus Q1/Q2) hate the Passive Voice. Why?

1. It wastes words. (Passive voice is usually 20-30% longer).
2. It is boring. It hides the “Actor” (you) behind the “Action.”
3. It is confusing. “It is believed…” Believed by who? You? The literature? The public?

The “Zombie” Problem When you write entirely in the passive voice, you sound like a “Zombie Scientist”—things just happen to your test tubes without anyone touching them.

Modern editors want to know who did the work. They want Agency. If you designed the protocol, say “We designed the protocol.” Own your research.

In this post, we will look at exactly when you should use Passive Voice (yes, there is still a place for it!) and how to switch to Active Voice without sounding arrogant.

Active vs Passive Voice: The Difference Between the Two

Passive voice is a less direct way of expressing an idea. It is not as engaging and does not give the reader much information about what happened.

Passive voice is a less direct way of expressing an idea. It gives the reader few details or specific information on what happened in the sentence. A passive sentence is more like a generalization than a statement that specifically describes an event in detail.

The difference between the two types of sentences can be seen when writing sentences about events — one type (the passive voice) often leaves out verbs and makes sentences sound less direct and engaging, while the other type (active voice) uses verbs to make statements more direct and engaging for readers.

Passive voice is used when the subject of a sentence receives the action

Passive voice is an important topic for college students writing papers.

Passive voice is used when the subject of a sentence receives the action instead of initiating it. It can be useful in certain situations, but it should not be used too often as it can make your writing seem weak or unclear.

Passive voice is an important topic for college students writing papers, because it can make your work seem weak or unclear in certain situations.

Active voice is more engaging than passive voice and has a stronger effect on readers because it engages them in what’s happening

Active voice is more engaging because it engages the reader in what is happening. They are an active participant in the scene, rather than a passive observer. Passive voice can sound unprofessional and have a weaker effect on readers because they are not engaged.

Passive voice might sound formal and academic but it can have a less powerful effect on readers when compared to active voice. This is because they are not actively involved in the scene as an actor, but instead as an observer who is being told about what’s happening.

4 Reasons Why You Should Write With Active Voice

Active voice will make your writing more powerful and persuasive.

When you write in active voice, it is easier to connect with the reader and make a connection.

The common misconception about active voice is that it makes things sound aggressive or rude.

It doesn’t matter which form of writing you choose, it’s important to be consistent.

Active voice will help a writer to reduce passive voice use, which can confuse readers or the point of your message.

How overuse of passive voice is flagged by AI Detection Software

One of the most common issues flagged by AI detection tools is the overuse of passive voice. Many AI-generated texts lean heavily on passive constructions, making them more susceptible to being flagged. Some modern AI assisted proofreaders and editors can help researchers and students refine their writing by:

1. Identifying Passive Voice – The tool highlights passive constructions and suggests more direct, active alternatives.
2. Enhancing Sentence Clarity – By switching passive voice to active, ProofreaderPro.ai improves readability and engagement.
3. Providing Context-Sensitive Suggestions – Unlike simple grammar checkers, ProofreaderPro.ai offers suggestions based on the overall academic tone of the paper.
4. Improving AI Detection Scores – By restructuring sentences to sound more human-like, it helps researchers avoid unnecessary AI content flags.

Using ProofreaderPro.ai, writers can ensure their work meets academic writing standards while reducing the likelihood of being incorrectly identified as AI-generated content.

Balancing Voice and Agency in Scholarly Manuscripts

The choice between active and passive voice is a critical decision in research writing that influences both readability and professional impact. Historically, many academic disciplines favored the passive voice to create an aura of objective distance. However, current editorial standards in major journals increasingly encourage the use of the active voice to ensure sentences remain concise and the agency of the researcher is clear. By understanding the functional differences between these two constructions, authors can produce more vigorous and transparent manuscripts.

Research into academic publishing trends shows that manuscripts featuring a higher percentage of active voice are often processed more efficiently during the peer review cycle. Data suggests that papers utilizing active constructions are perceived as more direct, reducing the time reviewers spend deciphering complex sentence structures. Furthermore, analysis of highly cited papers across various disciplines reveals that active voice is frequently used in abstracts and conclusions to emphasize the significance of the findings. In contrast, while passive voice remains standard for describing experimental procedures where the process is the focus, its overuse in other sections can lead to a 10 to 15 percent decrease in overall readability scores. For scholars, the strategic application of active voice serves as a vital tool for improving engagement and ensuring their contributions are clearly communicated to the scientific community.