Page:NARA Style Guide.pdf/10

 :More than any other writing technique, using active voice and specifying who is performing what action will change the character of your writing. However, to say that the passive voice must be avoided at all cost would mean that we could never write She was born but must always write Her mother bore her. When the actor is understood, implied, or irrelevant, use the passive voice, as in the following example.


 * The passive voice is acceptable whenever the emphasis of the sentence should not be on the actor but rather on what was, is, or will be done. Any of the following sentences could be just fine, depending upon which word the writer thinks deserves emphasis.


 * The passive voice may also be appropriate when one action follows another as a matter of law, and there is no actor (besides the law itself) for the second action.


 * If you do not pay the royalty on your mineral production, your lease will be terminated.

1.3.2 Use the simplest form of the verb.


 * The simplest and strongest form of a verb is present tense. Using the present tense makes your document more direct and forceful and less complicated. The more you use conditional or future tense, the harder your audience has to work to understand your meaning.


 * These sections describe types of information that would satisfy the application requirements of Circular A-110 as it would apply to this grant program.


 * These sections tell you how to meet the requirements of Circular A-110 for this grant program.

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