RE: Active versus passive (WAS Displays versus Appears-Which One?)

Subject: RE: Active versus passive (WAS Displays versus Appears-Which One?)
From: "Michael West" <mike -dot- west -at- oz -dot- quest -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 16:24:57 +1100

Kim McGarghan wrote:


> Passive voice may be the best choice
> when describing a process.


And active voice is best when writing procedures.
If you know the difference between a process and a
procedure, you know why this is true. Unfortunately
a lot of so-called technical writers don't know the
difference.

I think a more useful rule is this:

Passive voice is fine when the
identity of the actor doesn't matter.

When it matters, use active voice.

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