Technical texts consist of procedural writing and descriptive writing. When you write in STE, use only the active voice in procedural writing and, as much as possible, in descriptive writing.

What is “active” or “passive” voice?

In the active voice, the subject of the sentence does the action of the sentence (“A” does “B”) Thus, the grammatical subject (A) is also the logical subject (agent).

In the passive voice, the subject of the sentence receives the action (“B” is done by “A”). Here, the grammatical subject is B, and the logical subject, or agent, is A.

Examples:
Active: The manufacturer supplies the safety procedures.

Passive: The safety procedures are supplied by the manufacturer.

Active: The side stay holds the main gear leg.

Passive: The main gear leg is held by the side stay.

How do you know if a sentence is written in the passive voice?

The best test for the passive voice is to ask the question “by whom or by what?” (the agent). If your text gives you an answer to this question, then it is written in the passive voice. When a sentence contains the preposition “by”, it is a good indication that the sentence can be passive. The object of the preposition “by” is then the agent and you can use it as the subject of a sentence in the active voice. In the examples that follow, the agent is underlined.

In each of the passive examples, you can ask the question “by whom or by what?”
- The safety procedures are given by the manufacturer.

- The main gear leg is held by the side stay.

But a passive construction does not always contain an agent.
- The dimensions are given in the table.

- The main gear leg is held in its position.

Usually, you can write descriptive text in the active voice without problems. But when you describe how a system is made or operates, it is sometimes necessary to use the passive voice to keep the correct technical content. Use the passive voice only when it is really necessary.

How do you change a sentence that is in the passive voice to the active voice?

To change a sentence from the passive voice to the active voice, you can use one of these four methods:

Method 1
When the agent (the person or thing that does the action) is given in the sentence (usually the object of the preposition “by”), put the agent at the beginning of the sentence and use it as the subject. The subject must always be the noun that does the action in the sentence, as shown in the diagram that follows:

Example:

Non-STE: The circuits are connected by a switching relay. (Passive)
Method 2
Change an infinitive verb to an active verb.

Example:
Non-STE: These values are used by the computer to calculate the energy consumption.(Passive)
STE: The computer calculates the energy consumption from these values. (Active)

The construction “are used by” gives no important information here. Thus, you can use the verb “calculate” to write the sentence in active voice.

Method 3
In procedural writing, change the verb to the imperative (“command”) form.

Examples:
Non-STE: The test can be continued by the operator. (Passive)
STE: Continue the test. (Active)

Non-STE: Oil and grease are to be removed with a degreasing agent. (Passive)
STE: Remove the oil and the grease with a degreasing agent. (Active)

Method 4

When the agent (the person or thing that does the action) is not given in the sentence, you can use the pronouns “you” or “we” as subjects in the active form. If the agent is the reader, use “you”. If the agent is your company, use “we.”

Examples:
Non-STE: On the ground, the valve can be opened with the override handle. (Passive)
STE: On the ground, you can open the valve with the override handle. (Active)

Non-STE: Additives are not used in this product. (Passive)

STE: We do not use additives in this product. (Active)

STE: We do not use additives in this product. (Active)

or
This product does not contain additives.