Active and passive allow one to place different kinds of emphasis on the same content, or allow one to eliminate information that is unhelpful or unknown in a given context (NB constructions use 'one' as a subject are an ersatz passive). One's choice to use either the passive or active, then, has everything to do with desired effect. To say that one must in certain circumstance write in one or the other is barbaric.
To my knowledge, the passive voice in the Sciences has led to ghastly, sometimes nearly unreadable prose. On Mon, Jan 26, 2009 at 2:07 PM, Chris Miller <[email protected]>wrote: > The active voice is not always self referential -- as when referring to the > written opinion of others, as William recently (and helpfully) did with: > "I > recommend two books: Sentimental Democracy: The Evolution of America's Self > Image, by Andrew Burstein, 1999." > > > But to say something like "the term "sentimental" is often used to denote > "excessive" and "self-indulgent" feelings" -- that tells none of us > anything > (unless we happen to be non-English speakers) > > Indeed -- where is the passive voice ever useful ? > > Only in the hard sciences -- where the theories of relativity,evolution, > etc > are known to be true, regardless of who > first proposed them. > > In aesthetics, on the other hand, statements are based on personal > experiences > and beliefs -- so we need to know who made them. > > > ***************** > > > >I also strongly disagree with Miller's attack on the passive voice. While > active voice and first person writing can be assertive it also carries the > virus of solipism or unsupported opinion. That sort of argument led by > unreasoned opinion is the beginning of shouting and verbal fisticuffs. It > is > not the conversation of thoughtful people trying to understand difficulot > concepts. > > > > > > > ____________________________________________________________ > Find success and happiness with drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Click now. > > http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2231/fc/PnY6rc1t97rBGPdOrXr8DYYsP2DrjB > 8f0k9TdEKUd5DCH7ohfMYZG/<http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2231/fc/PnY6rc1t97rBGPdOrXr8DYYsP2DrjB8f0k9TdEKUd5DCH7ohfMYZG/>
