IMPROVING YOUR STYLE / 91 give warning to the world of the disaster that would follow. The active voice is more positive than the passive voice .In the active voice a subject does something. In the passive voice something is done to him. The father struck his son. The teacher gave the class a detention. The son was struck by his father. The class was given a detention by the teacher. In the second version there are two extra words; the first sentences have more vigour. Using positive statements instead of negative ones also economises on words. For example: He did not remember his wife’s birthday. Clare was not present in the afternoon. would be better as the following: Negatives Passive voice Active voice Making use of the active and passive voice