Passive Voice in English Discourse: Significance for Academic Writing and Communication

Abstract

The passive voice is a grammatical construction in which the subject receives, rather than performs, the action expressed in the verb, and it plays a central role in shaping discourse organization in English. By shifting the patient or theme into subject position, passive constructions allow writers to emphasize processes, outcomes, and facts instead of human agents, which is particularly valuable in formal and knowledge-oriented genres (Corson & Smollett, n.d.; Hinkel, 2004). In academic and scientific writing, passive structures contribute to an impersonal and objective tone by foregrounding procedures, materials, and results while backgrounding or omitting the researcher (Abualzain, 2019; Leong, 2020). The passive voice also appears frequently in political and journalistic discourse, where it can strategically obscure agency or distance responsibility (Rachma et al., 2025). Pedagogically, scholars note that passive voice should not be regarded as a grammatical flaw but rather as a resource that becomes essential in genres such as lab reports, research articles, and institutional communication (Inzunza, 2020; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, n.d.). At the same time, inappropriate or excessive reliance on the passive voice may lead to ambiguity or reduced clarity, requiring writers to balance active and passive constructions with purpose and awareness (Bada & Ulum, 2018; Grammarly, 2024). This article examines the discourse functions of the passive voice across academic, political, and general communication contexts, and outlines pedagogical considerations for its effective instruction in English language teaching. Understanding how passive structures shift emphasis and construct objectivity enables learners to deploy them strategically rather than avoiding them uncritically.