Academic writing - Passive voice

Should you use passive voice all the time for academic writing?

• Yes

• No

We use passive voice in academic writing to show subjectivity.

• True

• False

Which of the following sentences is properly written in passive voice?

• Someone launched Google Translation in 2006.

• Google Translate was launched in 2006.

• Google Translate has been launched in 2006.

• Someone had launched Google Translation in 2006.

In which situation should I NOT use passive voice?

• When the person/thing carrying out the action is not known or unclear

• To emphasise the thing being acted on

• When the sentence becomes wordy and unnecessarily complex

• 1. To avoid the first person pronoun

Last year, the experiment (a)   (conduct) to assess the impact of varying temperatures on enzyme activity levels.

The volcanic eruption (a)   (observe) and monitored using remote sensing techniques to study its temporal and spatial characteristics.

The effects of light pollution on nocturnal ecosystems (a)   (investigate) through field observations and data analysis.

Efforts are being made to promote gender equality through policy implementation, education initiatives, and awareness campaigns.

(a)  

The process of acculturation (a)   (examine) through surveys and interviews to assess the extent of cultural adaptation among immigrant populations

Which one of the sentences is the most properly developed, regarding the use of passive or active voice?

• The research which had been taken by the university was critiqued from an ethical point of view and was promptly retracted by them.

• Studies have been conducted on the importance of exercise.

• The scientists invited more participants to complete the survey since they thought the sample size is not big enough.

• The impact of acculturation on mental health outcomes was investigated through longitudinal studies and psychological assessments.