Using the passive voice is always very helpful. Mind you…
“Using the passive voice is always very helpful. Mind you, a lot of that propaganda English emanates from here. The British establishment has always used the passive voice. It's been a weapon of discourse so those who committed terrible acts in the old empire could not be identified.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passive voice obscures responsibility, allowing regimes to hide culpability and manipulate discourse.
In simple terms: Passive voice hides who did what.
Key Takeaway
Question language use.
Themes
politics
language
responsibility
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
linguistic
political
When to use this quote
- journalism
- political speeches
- education
- public policy
Key Concepts
Rhetorical analysis
propaganda studies
Questions to Reflect On
- When is passive voice appropriate?
- How to expose hidden actors?
A Different Perspective
Passive voice can be stylistically neutral.