规则14 使用主动语态[rule-14]

主动语态通常比被动语态更直接、更有力：

I shall always remember my first visit to Boston.

这比下面这一句好得多：

My first visit to Boston will always be remembered by me.

后一句不那么直接，不那么大胆，也不那么简洁。如果写作者试图删去“by me”使它更简洁，

My first visit to Boston will always be remembered,

它就变得含混不清：将永远记得这次访问的，是写作者本人，还是某个未透露的人，还是世人？

当然，这条规则并不意味着写作者应当完全弃用被动语态，它常常很方便，有时还必不可少。

• The dramatists of the Restoration are little esteemed today.
• Modern readers have little esteem for the dramatists of the Restoration.

在一个关于王政复辟时期剧作家的段落里，第一种说法更可取；在一个关于现代读者品味的段落里，第二种更可取。如同这些例子一样，把某个特定的词作为句子主语的需要，往往会决定该用哪种语态。

然而，惯常使用主动语态有助于写出有力的文章。这不仅适用于主要关注动作的叙事，也适用于任何类型的写作。许多平淡的描写句或说明句，只要用一个主动语态的及物动词来替换像there is或could be heard这类敷衍的表达，就能变得生动而有力。

• 误：There were a great number of dead leaves lying on the ground.
• 正：Dead leaves covered the ground.

• 误：At dawn the crowing of a rooster could be heard.
• 正：The cock's crow came with dawn.

• 误：The reason he left college was that his health became impaired.
• 正：Failing health compelled him to leave college.

• 误：It was not long before she was very sorry that she had said what she had.
• 正：She soon repented her words.

注意，在上面的例子里，句子变得更有力时，通常也会变得更短。因此，简洁是有力的副产品。