1. Active Sentence The writer sent the letter through the mail.
Sentence: Subject, verb, complete thought
Subject—writer
Actor in sentence
Performs action of verb

2. Passive Sentence The letter was sent by the writer through the mail.
Sentence: Subject, verb, complete thought
Subject—Letter
Acted upon in the sentence
Receives the action of the verb

3. Which is clearer and more concise, active or passive voice?
Fewer words
Places right information in subject position for emphasis

4. Exceptions Ken Park decided that we should go on strike.
A decision was made to go on strike.
Farmers grew this corn in Illinois.
This corn was grown in Illinois.

5. Appendix A:9 Using Numbers Correctly
Use words for zero to nine.
Use words or numerals for numbers that can be expressed in one or two words (45 or forty-five).
Use numerals for numbers that would require more than two words (127 instead of one hundred twenty-seven).

6. Never begin a sentence with a numeral (spell out the number or move it in the sentence).
For very large numbers, combine numerals and words (100 million).
Combine numbers and words to prevent misreading (three 6-inch bolts instead of 3 6 inch bolts).
Be consistent in how you use numbers.

7. Use numerals for all statistical data.
Ages and addresses
Dates and times
Exact amounts of money
Fractions and decimals
Identification numbers
Measurements
Page numbers
Percentages, ratios, proportions
Scores