KEEP IT ACTIVE

SOME GOOD TIPS FOR GOOD WRITING

I noticed in many of your profiles so far a tendency to use "passive verbs." I will discuss this a little more in class today, but here are some tips to help make your story punch (as opposed to putting the reader to sleep).

• Get rid of unnecessary words. Any word that doesn't add to your story detracts from it. Examine your prose for words like these (IF YOU SEE THEM, DELETE THEM): started to, began to, proceeded to, could, would, there was, there are, there is, there were, seemed to, tried to.
• Inactive verbs. Watch for passive verbs, such as was, is, were, are. Replace them with active verbs, the most active and descriptive words you can think of.
• -ing words. Verbs ending with "ing" are by nature more passive than those ending with "ed."
• Adverbs. Those -ly words that precede a verb weaken it, not strengthen it. If your verb isn't strong enough to make the statement you want it to make, find a stronger verb.
• Avoid Intensifiers. Very, really, totally, completely, truly and so on. Is completely empty any more empty?

source: http://users.wirefire.com/tritt/tip3.html


EXAMPLES OF PASSIVE USAGES:

	Active Voice	Passive Voice
Past Tense	I taught; I learned.	I was (have been) taught [by someone]; It was (has been) learned [by someone].
Present Tense	I teach; I learn.	I am [being] taught [by someone]; It is [being] learned [by someone].
Future Tense	I will teach; I will learn.	I will be taught [by someone]; It will be learned [by someone].

 source: http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/grammar-and-syntax/active-and-passive-verbs/