Unit 3.10 Selecting active or passive voice数字时代的商务英语写作.pdf

Unit 3 Business Writing Techniques 第三章：商务英语写作技巧 3.10 Active vs. Passive Voice 3.10 主动语态抑或被动语态 Active voice • Most major employers require drug testing. (Active voice; the subject is acting) • Dr. Smith recommended Tina for the job. (Active voice; the subject is acting) Passive voice • Drug testing is required by most major employers. (Passive voice; the subject is being acted upon) • Tina was recommended for the job by Dr. Smith. (Passive voice; the subject is being acted upon) Academic writing • Biographical and academic data were collected from students at the outset and updated as needed, capturing their academic majors, years of prior English study, TOEFL scores, courses, and grades. Business writing Rule 1 ： Use the active voice for most business writing, as it clearly tells what the action is and who is performing the action. 5 • The new procedure was developed by the operations team. • The operations team developed the new procedure. • Legal problems are created by this contract. • This contract creates legal problems. • Reception preparations have been undertaken by our PR people for the new CEO’s arrival. • Our PR people have begun planning a reception for the new CEO. Business Writing Rule 2: In some situations, tact and sensitivity is needed, and we may prefer the indirectness that passive verbs allow. For instance: • Tyler made a major error in the estimate. • A major error was made in the estimate. Situation 1 • Use the passive voice to conceal/hide the doer of an action and avoid assigning blame. • The order was damaged during shipment. Situation 2 • Use the passive voice to deemphasize bad news: • Although your lease cannot be renewed, we can offer . . . .有缘学习更多+谓ygd3076考证资料 Situation 3 • Use passive voice to emphasize the object r