Active vs. Passive Voice: Which One is Better for Scientific Writing?

In scientific writing, clarity is key. One common question is whether to use active or passive voice. Traditionally, passive voice has been preferred for its formality, but many experts now recommend active voice for greater clarity and engagement.

Which should you choose? Should you use active or passive voice? This article will help you understand the differences and provide examples of both styles.

1. What Is Active Voice?

In active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action. This makes the sentence clearer and more direct.

🔍 Example:
✔️ "The researchers conducted the experiment."
📌 (Subject: The researchers → Action: conducted → Object: the experiment)

Active voice gives a direct connection between the subject and the action, which is crucial in scientific writing.

Why Active Voice Works Well in Science

• Clear and direct – Active voice helps avoid ambiguity.
• Concise – The sentences are shorter and more to the point.
• Engaging – It makes your writing feel more dynamic.

💡 Example – Results Section:
✔️ "We found that temperature affects enzyme activity."
🚫 "It was found that temperature affects enzyme activity."

Active voice makes your research more approachable by directly linking the action to the researchers.

2. What Is Passive Voice?

In passive voice, the subject receives the action. This shifts the focus to the process or outcome rather than the researcher.

🔍 Example:
✔️ "The experiment was conducted by the researchers."
📌 (Object: The experiment → Action: was conducted → Subject: by the researchers)

Passive voice is useful when you want to emphasize the process or result more than the researcher’s role.

Why Use Passive Voice?

• Focus on outcomes – You can highlight the process or results over the researcher.
• Impersonal tone – Passive voice can sound more formal, which is sometimes preferred.
• Common in methods – Journals often use passive voice when describing research procedures.

💡 Example – Methods Section:
✔️ "The samples were incubated at 37°C for 12 hours."
(Preferred over: "We incubated the samples at 37°C for 12 hours.")

While passive voice has its place, excessive use can make writing feel detached and unclear.

3. When Should You Use Active Voice?

Active voice is often the better choice because it’s clearer and more engaging. Many journals now prefer active voice in their guidelines.

✅ Active Voice Works Best For:

• Introduction & Abstract
  ✔️ "We studied the effects of antioxidants on oxidative stress."
• Results & Discussion
  ✔️ "Our analysis showed a significant increase in cell growth."
• Conclusion
  ✔️ "Our findings indicate that genetic mutations contribute to cancer development."

Active voice is preferable when you want to communicate your research more clearly and directly.

4. When Should You Use Passive Voice?

Even though active voice is generally favored, there are times when passive voice is appropriate. It’s particularly useful when focusing on the process or result.

✅ Passive Voice Works Best For:

• Emphasizing the process
  ✔️ "A new compound was identified to inhibit viral replication."
• Describing methods
  ✔️ "Samples were analyzed using a spectrophotometer."
• Reporting general facts or previous studies
  ✔️ "Penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming."

Passive voice remains important in some contexts, but avoid overusing it.

5. What Do Journals Prefer?

Different journals have different preferences. However, most journals lean towards active voice for clarity and readability.

🧾 What Leading Journals Prefer:

• APA Style: Encourages active voice to keep writing clear.
• Nature & Science: Active voice is encouraged for readability.
• Elsevier & Springer: Accept passive voice in methods sections.

Always check the journal’s guidelines to see which voice they prefer.

6. Striking the Right Balance

To achieve the best of both worlds, use active voice where it makes your writing clearer and passive voice when you want to focus on processes or results.

How to Balance Both Voices:

• Use active voice in the abstract, introduction, results, and discussion.
• Use passive voice in the methods section and when emphasizing the outcome.
• Avoid weak passive structures, like "It is suggested that..."
  ✔️ "The study suggests..." (clearer and more direct).

Balancing both voices will enhance your writing’s clarity while still meeting the formal requirements of scientific writing.

Conclusion

In summary, active voice should be the default choice for most sections of your writing. However, passive voice has its place, especially when you need to focus on the process or outcome. By carefully choosing when to use each voice, you can make your scientific writing clearer, more engaging, and more effective.

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