writingwellishard.com is a free digital tool that helps academic writers to identify the patterns in their own writing, and to compare their work to a sample of their choice. I made writingwellishard.com because I’m not persuaded there’s only one way to write well, and I don’t like that the norms of “good” writing are tooContinue reading “What is Writing Well is Hard?”
Tag Archives: passive voice
#AskDrEditor: Using the active voice strategically
My editing advice column, Ask Dr. Editor, is available through UniversityAffairs.ca. This Ask Dr. Editor piece explains the active voice, when to use it, and its application alongside passive voice: “Using the active voice strategically: How and where to edit for active voice constructions in your academic writing.” Have a question you want me to answer? Contact me orContinue reading “#AskDrEditor: Using the active voice strategically”
Favour the active voice
Active voice sentences are shorter and clearer than passive voice ones. When you write in the passive voice, the person who is doing the action is removed from the story you’re telling. Think of the difference between these two (fictional) headlines: Funding for Scientific Research Cut (passive voice) Trudeau Cuts Scientific Research Funding (active voice)Continue reading “Favour the active voice”