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“The passive voice is convoluted; it takes the energy out of your writing and makes your message flaccid. It is absolutely homicidal ­- it kills the people in your prose. . . . The passive voice invariably comes across as pontificating, patronizing, talking down. It sounds insincere, even dishonest, and it makes the reader uncomfortable, not trusting, though usually the reader cannot put her finger on why.” -- Henriette Anne Klauser, Writing on Both Sides of the Brain

“Suitable verbs don't usually roll off the keyboard at the right time; they must be selected, more or less consciously, from a wide range of possibilities.” – Peter Richardson, Style: A Pragmatic Approach

For a powerful and energetic proposal, avoid passive verbs – was and were – that hide the agent of action.  Avoid static verbs that lack movement: am, is, are, be, being, been, had, have, has, do,did, does, could, should, would.  Replace overused verbs (get, went, put) with more precise active verbs.

achieve allow analyze announce appeal apply assemble assess assist balance become begin believe belong bring change choose clarify coach combine compare compose conclude connect constitute contain contrast coordinate creates decide define demonstrate depend design develop diagnose differ direct discuss distinguish educate elevate engage ensure entail envision equal establish evaluate excel exemplify exhibit experiment explain extend find focus form give help hinders identify illuminate illustrate implement include indicate inform inspire instruct intend introduce invent invest investigate involve know lack lead learn maintain make manage modify motivate move negotiate need observe occur offer operate organize perform plan portray prepare prevent produce prohibit promote provide pursue realize receive recognize refine reflect rely remain remind report research restore result return require reveal review sample search send show signal specify start state suggest support survey synthesize taught teach tend test translate try understand use validate  verify wish work write wrote

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