Clarity & Style
Active Voice
Make the doer the subject to increase clarity and energy.
What & why
The brain processes information most easily in the standard Subject-Verb-Object order. Active voice matches this cognitive preference, making it feel clearer, more direct, and more energetic. It also explicitly assigns agency, which answers the brain's implicit question of 'who is responsible?'
Before & after
“Mistakes were made.”
“We made mistakes and we fixed them.”
When you’ll use it
Taking ownership of decisions and outcomes in business meetings
Writing clear action items and status updates
Creating compelling narratives and stories
Avoiding vague, bureaucratic language in presentations
Pro tip
Ask, who did what, then write it in that order.
Questions & answers
3 questionsLearn more
Practice this concept
Practice clearer speaking
Get AI feedback on hedging language, jargon, filler words, and clarity in your own speech.