In Defense of the Passive Voice in Legal Writing

Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Apr 1997

In Defense of the Passive Voice in Legal Writing

Brady Coleman Temasek Polytechnic

Abstract

Although the passive voice may be overused in legal prose, warnings in legal writing guidebooks against the passive risk undervaluing its many uses. After briefly introducing the passive voice, and some possible reasons for its misuse, this article will outline the many situations when the passive is more appropriate than the active voice.

Journal: Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published: 1997-04-01
DOI: 10.2190/hn2d-avl9-7xk4-evvc
Open Access: Closed
Topics: multilingual writers voice and style

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (1)

Riggle (1998)

Using the Active and Passive Voice Appropriately in On-the-Job Writing

Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

Cites in this index (0)

No references match articles in this index.

Also cites 5 works outside this index ↓

10.1016/0889-4906(91)90013-M

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10.2307/1123074

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Gopen G., The State of Legal Writing: Res Ipsa Loquitor, Michigan Law Review, pp. 333, 344, 1987.

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Henley N. M., Syntax, Semantics, and Sexual Violence: Agency and the Passive Voice, Journal of Language and S…

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10.2307/743883

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