Page 868 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing

2. The technician expertly cleaned and repaired the old

lawnmower.

3. The head chef supervised the cooking and menu planning in

the restaurant.

4. Women of ancient times washed clothes in streams and rivers.

5. The ringing of the telephone broke Lonnie’s concentration.

Correcting Shifts in Voice

When an unnecessary shift in voice occurs within a sentence, rewrite

the sentence so that it is in one voice. (Active voice is usually more

direct and vivid.)

Examples of Unnecessary Shifts in Voice

Corrected

Unnecessary Shift:

active passive
Before I left for the airport, a phone call was made to confirm my