Passive Voice in Academic Writing: Friend, Foe, or Both?

You’ve probably heard this common piece of academic writing advice: “Avoid the passive voice.” 

But like many one-size-fits-all rules, it’s too simplistic—and many people who insist on this advice can’t explain why. 

While active voice often creates clearer, more engaging sentences, passive voice still has a place in academic writing. The key isn’t to avoid it entirely, but to use it strategically. 

This article shows when passive voice strengthens your writing, when it weakens it, and how to strike the right balance for clear, impactful research papers. 

What Is Passive Voice? 

Passive voice shifts the focus of a sentence from the person or thing doing the action (the actor) to the action itself or its result. 

Here’s active voice in action: 

• Researchers at the University of Helsinki published the study in 2022. 

The researchers are front and center here.

Now, the passive voice version: 

• The study was published in 2022 by researchers at the University of Helsinki. 

Notice how the study takes the spotlight, and the researchers move to the background. 

Sometimes the actor is left out entirely: 

• The study was published in 2022. 

This shift—from who did it to what happened—is why passive voice is common in academic writing. It helps focus on results and processes, which is especially useful in research reports. 

Why Do Academic Writers Use Passive Voice? 

In academic writing, passive voice can: 

• Emphasize results or processes over the person doing the work 

• Maintain objectivity by avoiding personal pronouns 

• Follow typical styles in a discipline, especially in STEM 

Example: 

• The hydrogen atoms were combined with an oxygen atom to form water. 

This style is standard in lab reports, where the procedure matters more than the researchers performing it. 

Sometimes the actor isn’t important: 

• Darwin’s On the Origin of Species was first published in 1859. 

The publisher is not important here (but if you’re curious, it was John Murray). 

When Passive Voice Becomes a Problem in Research Papers 

Overuse can: 

• Make writing vague or confusing (e.g., “It was decided that the project would be continued.”) 

• Hide responsibility (e.g., “Mistakes were made.”) 

• Produce wordy, indirect sentences (e.g., “The report was being written.”) 

• Reduce engagement and clarity (e.g., “Many factors should be considered.”) 

• Bury key ideas, making text harder to skim (e.g., “It has been observed that….”) 

Compare: 

• It has been suggested by researchers in Tampere that the model may be flawed. 

vs. 

• Researchers in Tampere have suggested that the model may be flawed. 

The second is clearer and more credible. 

When to Use Passive Voice in Academic Writing (It’s OK!) 

Best for: 

Highlighting the result or object rather than the doer 

• A solution was discovered that solved the problem entirely. 

When the actor is unknown or irrelevant 

• The dataset was corrupted during transfer. 

Fields that expect it (e.g., in methodology sections or lab reports)

• Participants were randomly assigned to two groups. 

When Active Voice Is Better in Academic Writing 

Use it to: 

Clarify responsibility 

• The editor rejected the manuscript. 

Strengthen arguments 

• This study challenges the assumption that… 

Engage the reader 

• Researchers in Turku analyzed the data and found a surprising pattern. 

Help readers skim by keeping the main idea up front 

• The treatment improved patient outcomes. 

Too much passive voice can weaken your authorial presence. Active voice brings your ideas forward.

Final Thoughts on Use of Passive Voice 

The best academic writing balances clarity, tone, and purpose. 

Ask yourself: 

• Should I emphasize the action or the actor? 

• Is the sentence clear and direct? 

• Does the voice fit the section’s goal? 

If passive voice improves clarity or aligns with field norms, use it. If not, switch to active.