Passive Voice Examples: 15 Easy Fixes for UK Writers

Passive voice is not a mistake. But too much of it makes writing vague, slow and hard to follow. In a busy UK inbox or on a busy website, readers give you a few seconds, so clear sentences matter.

This guide shows 15 passive voice examples with simple fixes, explains when passive is perfectly fine and gives you a quick way to spot it in your own writing. Every example is original, and the businesses are made up. The spelling is British, since the guide is written for writers and businesses in the UK.

What Is Passive Voice?

In an active sentence, the person or thing doing the action comes first. In a passive sentence, the action is done to the subject, and the doer comes later or disappears.

A passive sentence usually has a form of “to be” (is, was, were, been) plus a past participle (sent, made, written). These passive voice examples all follow that pattern.

Why Active Voice Is Often Clearer

Active sentences are shorter, direct and easier to read on a phone. They also show who is responsible. The GOV.UK team recommends clear, direct writing for public information, and the Plain English Campaign in the UK promotes the same approach.

If you want to see how this fits into wider copywriting, read our SEO copywriting guide.

How to Spot Passive Voice Quickly

Use this two-step test on any sentence:

1. Look for “was”, “is”, “were”, “been” or “be” followed by a past-tense word such as “sent” or “made”.
2. Add “by zombies” after the verb. If the sentence still makes sense, it is passive. For example, “The invoice was sent by zombies” works, so “The invoice was sent” is passive.

15 Passive Voice Examples and Fixes

Business emails

Example 3 shows why passive voice can hide responsibility. The active version is more honest, and readers usually trust honesty more.

Website copy

Website copy works best when it speaks to the reader. Examples 9 and 10 become stronger when “you” or the audience takes the lead.

Reports, blogs and guides

Notice how the fix often makes the sentence shorter. Shorter sentences also read better on mobile, which helps with readability.

When Passive Voice Is Fine

Do not remove every passive sentence. These passive voice examples are perfectly acceptable:

• The doer is unknown: “The shop was broken into last night.”
• The doer does not matter: “Self Assessment tax returns must be filed by 31 January.”
• The object matters more: “The new bridge was opened in 2019.”
• Formal or scientific writing: “The samples were heated to 60 degrees.”

The rule is simple. Use active voice by default, and keep passive only when it helps the reader. Passive voice is not a spelling or grammar error, so the aim is clarity, not zero passives.

How to Fix Passive Voice Step by Step

1. Find the doer. Ask “who or what did this?” In “The form was completed,” the doer is missing, so decide who completed it.

2. Put the doer first. Move the doer to the start of the sentence.

3. Use a strong verb. Replace “is able to be done” with “can do”.

4. Read it aloud. If it sounds natural, keep it.

5. Check the whole page. Our free passive voice checker highlights passive sentences so you can review them quickly. Our filler word checker and power words highlighter help you tighten the rest, and our word counter tracks the length.

Nielsen Norman Group explains why plain, direct language helps readers understand and act.

Common Mistakes When Fixing Passive Voice

• Removing every passive sentence, even useful ones.
• Making sentences longer while fixing them.
• Dropping the doer and making the sentence vaguer.
• Writing “we” in every sentence so the copy feels self-centred.
• Ignoring the tone, since formal documents can use more passive voice than a friendly blog.

Purdue University’s writing lab gives a clear explanation of active and passive voice if you want a second source.

FAQ

What is passive voice in simple words?
It is a sentence where the action is done to the subject, such as “The email was sent,” instead of “She sent the email.”

Is passive voice wrong?
No. It is correct grammar, but it can make business writing vague, so use it only when it helps.

How do I know if a sentence is passive?
Look for “was”, “is” or “been” followed by a past participle. You can also add “by zombies” after the verb to test it.

Do UK businesses need to avoid passive voice?
No law requires it. But clear, direct writing helps UK customers understand your emails and web pages faster.

Can a tool find passive voice for me?
Yes. A passive voice checker highlights likely passive sentences, but you still need to decide which ones to change.

Conclusion

Passive voice is a tool, not a villain. Use these passive voice examples as a guide: name the doer when it matters, keep sentences short and keep passive only for the cases where it helps the reader. For businesses and writers in the UK, clear active sentences make emails, service pages and guides easier to read and act on. Want help with clearer copy? Contact us.