When To Use Passive Voice in Your Essays

When To Use Passive Voice in Your Essays When To Use Passive Voice in Your Essays The APA 6th Edition, Section 3.18 mandates that writers use active voice for clarity. Many writers use this type of voice in writing academic papers because it allows the reader to clearly distinguish the subject of the sentence and the action performed. Active voice is usually applied when writers wish to emphasize the â€Å"doer† of an action without confusing the reader. For articles, the active voice is especially useful when the writer wishes to express their stance on a certain debatable topic while allowing the reader to consider a different point of view. While active voice is preferred over passive voice, there are some instances when the passive form can elevate a work’s quality. However, before we include those phrases in our essays, we must first pay close attention to the verb tenses chosen to avoid inconsistencies. Here are some instances on when a writer may opt to use passive voice: When the â€Å"doer† is already introduced. Most writers use the first paragraph of the essay to introduce a topic to the reader. In this section, active voice is preferred as it helps the reader distinguish the doer of the action and any achievements listed thereafter. Once the writer has established the important â€Å"doers† of the essay, the passive voice may be used to add a touch of creativity and prevent the flow of the paper from becoming monotonous. When the doer is unknown. This can be applied to research papers or discoveries whose writers or explorers are unknown.Example: â€Å"Cave paintings that were recently discovered showed the progression of the neolithic people’s way of life.† When the focus is on the action rather than the doer. Passive voice works when we wish to focus on the action as the subject. This is usually used with gerund phrases.Example: â€Å"Drinking coffee has been shown to add multiple benefits for one’s health.† When the focus is on the recipient of the action rather than the doer. The passive voice may be used when the writer wishes to focus on the receiver of the action rather than the doer.Example: â€Å"Tardy employees that were reported by HR management were immediately given a pay reduction.† While the passive voice has been shown to be useful for creative purposes, writers should remember to use these phrases/sentences sparingly. Constant use of passive voice can lead to wordiness and ambiguity, resulting in reader confusion. Writers should carefully examine their work and remove all unnecessary phrases to maintain flow and keep the essay understandable and succinct. in Toronto and Canada specializes in academic papers that meet the standards of most institutions. We also provide editing and proofreading services to help elevate your essay’s impact.

American Flag Protocol on Memorial Day

American Flag Protocol on Memorial Day The American flag is flown at half-staff  anytime the nation is mourning. The proper protocol for flying the American Flag on Memorial Day slightly differs from other occasions when flags are flown at half-staff. On Memorial Day, flags are quickly raised to full-staff position and then slowly lowered to half-staff, where they remain from sunrise until noon to honor the dead servicemen and women of this country. At noon, the flags are raised quickly to full-staff in recognition of living military veterans who served the country. The flags remain at full staff until sunset. Whenever the flag is flown at half-staff, other flags (including state flags) should be removed or flown at half-staff as well. Protocol for Flags Mounted on Homes For flags that cannot be lowered, such as those mounted on homes, an acceptable alternative is to attach a black ribbon or streamer to the top of the flag pole, directly beneath the ornament at the end of the pole. The ribbon or streamer should be the same width as a stripe on the flag and the same length as the flag. If the flag is wall-mounted, attach three black bows along the top edge of the flag- one at each corner and one in the center. Other Occasions When Flags Fly at Half-Staff There are many other occasions when flags are flown at half-staff. No  one other than the president and state governors can order the flag to be flown at half-staff. Occasions include the following: Flags are flown at half-staff  at all U.S. federal buildings, grounds, territories, and Navy ships for 30 days when the current or a former president dies.They are flown at half-staff for 10 days following the death of the vice president, speaker of the House of Representatives, the chief justice or retired chief justice of the Supreme Court.Flags fly at half-staff until the burial of a former vice president, governor of a state, associate justice of the Supreme Court, or the Secretary of a military department.In the Washington, D.C. area, flags are flown at half-staff on the day of and the day following the death of a U.S. senator or representative.The president may order the flag to be flown at half-staff to recognize the death of a great American or non-American. Flags flew at half-staff in 2016 after the death of former first lady Nancy Reagan, in 2013 at the death of Nelson Mandela, in 2005 in recognition of the passing of Pope John Paul II, for King Hussein of Jordan in 1999, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin  in 1995, and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in 1965, among many others. The president may order the flag to be flown at half-staff when a tragic event occurs in the U.S. or elsewhere, including for the victims of the July 2016 attack on police officers in Baton Rouge and for the victims of the August 2016 attack in Nice, France.  In addition to Memorial Day, the flag flies at half-staff on Patriot Day (September 11), Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (December 7), and National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service (Oct 9).