RE: Passive voice [was RE: "Is energized"]

["Janoff, Steve" <Steve -dot- Janoff2 -at- Teradata -dot- com>]

Thanks.  I cited it partly for that reason but what's more interesting
to me about that example is its poetry.  It conjures up images almost as
vividly as the picture of the guy standing in front of the column of
tanks during Tiananmen Square.
 
Many memories are evoked by a phrase like that, most associated with
Watergate.  Even though passive isn't always the best choice for
technical writing, we'd be lessened without it, as if we had to give up
metaphors in some way.  (I guess the proper way to say it is that
passive voice can sometimes be used as an effective rhetorical device.)
 
Steve

________________________________

From: bbegin -at- aol -dot- com [mailto:bbegin -at- aol -dot- com] 
Sent: Thursday, December 03, 2009 11:59 AM
To: Janoff, Steve; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Cc: milan -dot- lists -at- gmail -dot- com
Subject: Re: Passive voice [was RE: "Is energized"]


The feature of the active voice is that it attributes responsibility.
And passive disassociates from responsibility - perfect example!
 
Thanks!
 
Beth
 
In a message dated 12/3/2009 1:44:42 P.M. Central Standard Time,
Steve -dot- Janoff2 -at- Teradata -dot- com writes:

	And speaking of the power of the passive voice, where would we
be
	without phrases like this one, seen today in a story about the
DC "gate
	crashers," and so reminiscent of the old Watergate days:
	
	    "Mistakes were made"
	
	
	-----Original Message-----
	From:
techwr-l-bounces+steve -dot- janoff2=teradata -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
	
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+steve -dot- janoff2=teradata -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com]
	On Behalf Of Milan Davidovic
	Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 7:50 AM
	To: BBEGIN -at- aol -dot- com
	Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
	Subject: Re: "Is energized"
	
	On Mon, Nov 30, 2009 at 8:57 AM,  <BBEGIN -at- aol -dot- com> wrote:
	> I'm working on a project that must all be in the active voice.
	
	Even at the cost of clarity?
	
	
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_passive_voice#Uses_of_the_passive_v
	oice
	
	--
	Milan Davidovic
	http://altmilan.blogspot.com

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