3 points | by Tomte 3 hours ago
2 comments
Language Log[0] (where Mr Pullum often writes[2]) has a whole bunch of "prescriptive passive is nonsense" posts[1].
[0] https://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/
[1] https://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/index.php?s=passive+vo... (this does include praise for correct use of passive voice, etc., but there's a good amount of criticism.)
[2] https://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?author=3 (except this search appears broken, at least on Safari)
Orwell is partly to blame because he wrote against it. I suspect it is partly because passives are more cumbersome in English.
Many English writing guides seem to display a fear of adverbs as well.
Language Log[0] (where Mr Pullum often writes[2]) has a whole bunch of "prescriptive passive is nonsense" posts[1].
[0] https://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/
[1] https://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/index.php?s=passive+vo... (this does include praise for correct use of passive voice, etc., but there's a good amount of criticism.)
[2] https://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?author=3 (except this search appears broken, at least on Safari)
Orwell is partly to blame because he wrote against it. I suspect it is partly because passives are more cumbersome in English.
Many English writing guides seem to display a fear of adverbs as well.