Understanding Passive Voice in Writing

Why is passive voice commonly used in academic and scientific writing?

• To make the text more personal and subjective

• To emphasize the action and results rather than the doer

• To make sentences longer and more complex

• To reduce clarity in the explanation

How does passive voice contribute to the objectivity of a scientific text?

• By making the writer's opinion more prominent

• By focusing on facts and results rather than personal involvement

• By allowing the use of informal language

• By emphasizing the scientist’s role in the research

Which of the following passive sentences improves clarity in scientific writing?

• "We conducted the experiment in a controlled environment."

• "The experiment was conducted in a controlled environment."

• "Someone conducted the experiment in a controlled environment."

• "The researchers are conducting the experiment in a controlled environment."

How does the use of passive voice affect the credibility of academic sources?

• It makes the text more formal and neutral

• It allows writers to add more personal opinions

• It makes the text sound less professional

• It focuses on the researchers rather than the research itself

Which sentence maintains a formal academic tone using passive voice?

• "We tested the hypothesis using multiple variables."

• "The hypothesis was tested using multiple variables."

• "People tested the hypothesis using multiple variables."

• "The scientist tested the hypothesis using multiple variables."

In which of the following academic contexts is passive voice most appropriate?

• Personal reflections on research

• Fiction writing and storytelling

• Lab reports and scientific research papers

• Opinion articles in magazines

Identify the incorrect passive sentence in an academic setting.

• "The results were analyzed using statistical methods."

• "Experiments was conducted to test the hypothesis."

• "A new method has been developed for data collection."

• "The samples were carefully examined under a microscope."

How does passive voice help in removing bias in academic writing?

• By hiding the author's name

• By ensuring that the focus is on the process and results, not the researcher

• By making the sentences more confusing

• By allowing researchers to express personal preferences

Which passive voice sentence is most credible in a scientific paper?

• "I believe this method is the best for data analysis."

• "We have tried many methods, and this one works best."

• "This method was found to be the most effective for data analysis."

• "People say this method is very effective for data analysis."

What is a key reason passive voice is preferred in methodology sections of research papers?

• To highlight the personal achievements of researchers

• To ensure that the process is emphasized over the researcher

• To make the writing more casual and engaging

• To include more subjective opinions about the research