Why is passive voice sometimes considered weak writing?

In one line

The rule

In passive voice, the subject receives the action, not does it.

For example: The ball was kicked by Ravi. (passive) Instead of: Ravi kicked the ball. (active)

Let's understand it simply

Imagine you are watching a cricket match. If you say, "The ball was hit," you do not know who hit it. But if you say, "Virat hit the ball," you know exactly who did it. Passive voice hides the doer. Active voice shows who is acting. This can make your writing stronger and clearer.

How it works

1. In passive voice, the object comes first, then the action, then the doer (if mentioned).
2. The doer is often left out, so the sentence feels incomplete.
3. The verb uses a form of "be" (is, was, were) plus the past participle (eaten, made, written).
4. The sentence can sound slow or less direct.

The story behind it

English teachers and writers noticed that active voice makes writing more direct and easy to follow. Over time, many style guides (books on good writing) advised using active voice for clearer, stronger sentences. Famous writers like George Orwell also warned against too much passive voice.

Where you see it in real life

• News reports: "A decision was made" (passive) — we do not know who made it.
• School essays: "The experiment was done" (passive) — who did it?
• Government notices: "Rules were changed" (passive) — by whom?
• Cricket commentary: "The catch was dropped" (passive) — which player?

Why it matters

• Active voice makes your writing clear and direct.
• Readers understand who is doing what.
• Many exams and jobs prefer clear, strong writing.
• Good writing skills help in letters, reports, and emails.

Common mistakes

• Thinking passive voice is always wrong. (It is useful sometimes, but not always.)
• Using passive voice to hide the doer. (This can make writing unclear.)
• Forgetting to mention who did the action.

Remember it

If you want your writing to be strong, show who does the action. Use active voice when you can.