<p><strong>Short answer</strong><br>
I haven't found scientific literature on it. Non-scientific sources generally do seem to acknowledge that the passive voice radiates authority.  </p>

<p><strong>Background</strong><br>
To answer the question if there's scientific research on this topic - I wasn't able to find anything of value on an, admittedly, quite cursory Google Scholar search. </p>

<p>In fact, given the high element of subjectivity in 'finding a text sounding authoritative', I think this question may be more suitable for <a href="https://writing.stackexchange.com/">Writing.SE</a>. However, since the question is heavily upvoted, and since it does indeed touch on the Psychological Sciences, I'll give my two-cents worth based on two non-scientific, non-peer-reviewed book quotes and a regular website entry.</p>

<p><a href="http://onlinewritingtraining.com.au/2015/06/when-to-use-the-active-voice/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Online Writing Training</a> says:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>One of the main reasons why the passive voice gets such a bad name is that many [] writers overuse it to make their writing seem more formal and <strong>authoritative</strong>. The result is often turgid, difficult-to-read prose. Take this example</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Lebrun Jean-luc says in his book <a href="https://www.worldscientific.com/worldscibooks/10.1142/8156#t=toc" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Scientific Writing 2.0: A Reader And Writer's Guide</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>[The] passive voice [] give[s] the paper a more authoritative disembodies voice,...</p>
</blockquote>

<p>As a last example, William M. Vatavuk states in his book <a href="http://maktaba.ku.ac.ke/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=52249" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Marketing Yourself with Technical Writing: A Guide for Today's Professionals</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Maybe technical writers feel that  that the passive voice is more formal, more professional sounding, and that it gives their writing a more authoritative ring...</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I think that last quote is important: people feel that way, but it's entirely a subjective thing; some may find the passive voice boring, others may regard it as authoritative.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-03T09:35:16.070Z
2018-07-03T14:28:54.877Z
2018-07-03T14:28:54.877Z
AliceD
<p>In the middle of the last century (roughly from the 20s-70s) the passive voice dominated scientific writing; or should it be said that scientific writing was dominated by the passive voice? </p>

<p>Nowadays, there is pushback against the passive voice with (noted scientists like) Robert May <a href="http://www.tsn.org.uk/TSNnewsite/news/writing%20styles2.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">saying</a> that "these days, use of the passive voice in a research paper is, more often than not, the hallmark of second rate work." <a href="http://csermelyblog.tehetsegpont.hu/sites/default/files/Watson-Crick-Avery.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Moore (2000)</a> even argues (from anecdotal evidence) that your scientific work might have less impact if you rely on the passive voice (among other factors of poor rhetoric).</p>

<p>However, the passive voice is still preferred (or at least used) by many scientists. This is occasionally explained by the assertion that the passive voice is more objective or seems more authoritative. Is there any empirical literature on this?</p>

<p><strong>Does a text appear more objective or authoritative if it is written in the passive voice?</strong> Does it appear more 'scientific'? Does it affect the impact of the work (or proxies like citation count)? Is this effect context (say, science vs. law vs. politics, etc) dependent?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-22T21:22:58.220Z
Superb question! Since my undergraduate years, I have eschewed passive voice for the reasons you mentioned. But is first-person better? I'll do a little digging and look forward to others' answers! (Oh my goodness, I just noticed this question was asked 3 years ago! There's got to be some info out there...)
Mark D Worthen PsyD
<social-psychology><language><communication><linguistics><trust>
Do readers consider the passive voice as more authoritative?
Artem Kaznatcheev
# Do readers consider the passive voice as more authoritative?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-05-14)

In the middle of the last century (roughly from the 20s-70s) the passive voice dominated scientific writing; or should it be said that scientific writing was dominated by the passive voice?

Nowadays, there is pushback against the passive voice with (noted scientists like) Robert May [saying](http://www.tsn.org.uk/TSNnewsite/news/writing%20styles2.html) that "these days, use of the passive voice in a research paper is, more often than not, the hallmark of second rate work." [Moore (2000)](http://csermelyblog.tehetsegpont.hu/sites/default/files/Watson-Crick-Avery.pdf) even argues (from anecdotal evidence) that your scientific work might have less impact if you rely on the passive voice (among other factors of poor rhetoric).

However, the passive voice is still preferred (or at least used) by many scientists. This is occasionally explained by the assertion that the passive voice is more objective or seems more authoritative. Is there any empirical literature on this?

**Does a text appear more objective or authoritative if it is written in the passive voice?** Does it appear more 'scientific'? Does it affect the impact of the work (or proxies like citation count)? Is this effect context (say, science vs. law vs. politics, etc) dependent?

**Tags:** social-psychology, language, communication, linguistics, trust

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Superb question! Since my undergraduate years, I have eschewed passive voice for the reasons you mentioned. But is first-person better? I'll do a little digging and look forward to others' answers! (Oh my goodness, I just noticed this question was asked 3 years ago! There's got to be some info out there...)  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-07-03. Score: 1

**Short answer**  
I haven't found scientific literature on it. Non-scientific sources generally do seem to acknowledge that the passive voice radiates authority.

**Background**  
To answer the question if there's scientific research on this topic - I wasn't able to find anything of value on an, admittedly, quite cursory Google Scholar search.

In fact, given the high element of subjectivity in 'finding a text sounding authoritative', I think this question may be more suitable for [Writing.SE](https://writing.stackexchange.com/). However, since the question is heavily upvoted, and since it does indeed touch on the Psychological Sciences, I'll give my two-cents worth based on two non-scientific, non-peer-reviewed book quotes and a regular website entry.

[Online Writing Training](http://onlinewritingtraining.com.au/2015/06/when-to-use-the-active-voice/) says:

> One of the main reasons why the passive voice gets such a bad name is that many [] writers overuse it to make their writing seem more formal and **authoritative**. The result is often turgid, difficult-to-read prose. Take this example

Lebrun Jean-luc says in his book [Scientific Writing 2.0: A Reader And Writer's Guide](https://www.worldscientific.com/worldscibooks/10.1142/8156#t=toc)

> [The] passive voice [] give[s] the paper a more authoritative disembodies voice,...

As a last example, William M. Vatavuk states in his book [Marketing Yourself with Technical Writing: A Guide for Today's Professionals](http://maktaba.ku.ac.ke/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=52249):

> Maybe technical writers feel that that the passive voice is more formal, more professional sounding, and that it gives their writing a more authoritative ring...

I think that last quote is important: people feel that way, but it's entirely a subjective thing; some may find the passive voice boring, others may regard it as authoritative.


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