A simple writing principle that separates okay writers from exceptional ones.
Just look at this👇 — which one of these makes you want to keep reading?
❌ The article was written by her
âś… She wrote the article
It’s things like this that separate between lifeless writing no one cares about and content people actually enjoy.
Your writing isn’t just about words—it’s about connection and confidence and momentum and much more. That’s where the active voice comes in.
And engaging writing is crucial for you to have any chance of succeeding and growing your audience in algorithmic recommendation platforms like Medium & Twitter.
Active voice makes you sound so much more natural.
The subject doing the action rather than having it done to them.
1. Nobody actually talks like this
But because of how many of us learned to write we keep making this mistake.
❌ “The child was saved by the firefighter.”
âś… “The firefighter saved the child.”
Short and snappy.
It’s natural — something that’s very important if you want to connect with your audience and succeed as a writer.
On social platforms like Medium you always want to make your audience feel like they’re “hearing” the words of a real person as they read. It needs to feel like a social affair.
The more realistic and humanized your writing reads, the much more likely they are to keep on reading and become a true fan of you and your story.
❌ A startup was built by him from within his bedroom.
âś… He built a startup in bedroom.
2. Passive voice drains the life out of your story
❌ “Mistakes were made.”
Who made the mistakes? Aliens? Your cat? We don’t know. And that vagueness ruins your credibility and your emotional impact.
But switch to active voice:
✅ “I made mistakes.”
Boom—now there’s vulnerability. Now there’s a story. That kind of honesty builds trust, and trust builds followers.
When you have a powerful story, people will happily read your article from start to finish.
3. Passive voice kills momentum — and momentum keeps readers hooked
Active voice is like a moving train. It keeps the narrative rolling, building pace with every line.
Passive voice? It’s like dragging a mattress through molasses.
✅ “They launched the campaign, hit 1,000 subscribers, and doubled their revenue in 60 days.”
❌ “The campaign was launched, 1,000 subscribers were gained, and revenue was doubled within 60 days.”
Which one makes you want to keep reading? The active version sounds like a win. The passive one sounds like a report.
On Medium, you want movement. Action. You’re not just reporting—you’re inviting people into a journey. And journeys need motion.
4. Active voice makes you sound confident
Writer platforms like Threads & Medium are full of thought leaders, storytellers, and people with something to say. If you want to grow, you need to sound like someone worth listening to.
Passive voice often comes off as hesitant, like you’re afraid to take a stand.
❌ “It could be argued that self-care is important.”
Who’s arguing? Why the hedge?
Now try:
✅ “Self-care is essential.”
Clear. Direct. Confident. That’s the voice of someone who knows what they’re talking about—and readers can feel that.
5. When passive voice can work (use it sparingly)
When you don’t know who did the action — or it’s irrelevant.
“The Mona Lisa was stolen in 1911.”
Fair enough—what matters is that it was stolen.
But for your day-to-day content writing? Your essays, guides, think pieces, and personal stories?
Stick with active.