新闻报道英语作文中的被动语态

新闻报道英语作文中的被动语态
The Prevalence of the Passive Voice in English News Reporting.
The passive voice is a grammatical construction that is widely used in English, particularly in news reporting. It is often employed to convey objectivity and neutrality, allowing the reader to focus on the facts without being influenced by the subjective opinions of the writer. In news articles, the passive voice serves several important functions that make it an indispensable tool for journalists.
Firstly, the passive voice is used to emphasize the action or event rather than the agent performing it. In news reporting, this is crucial as it allows the journalist to convey the facts without assigning blame or responsibility. For example, instead of saying "The police arrested the suspect," a news article might use the passive construction "The suspect was arrested by the police." This
focuses the reader's attention on the arrest itself rather than on the police as the agents of the action.
Secondly, the passive voice is often used to convey new information or updates. In news articles, this is
particularly important as it allows the writer to present the most recent developments first, using the passive voice to highlight the new information. For instance, an article might begin with "The meeting was postponed due to unexpected circumstances," drawing the reader's attention
to the fact that the meeting has been rescheduled.
Thirdly, the passive voice can help create a sense of detachment and objectivity in news reporting. By removing the need to specify an agent, the passive voice allows the journalist to present facts without appearing to take a
side or express a personal opinion. This is crucial in maintaining the credibility and trustworthiness of news articles, as readers expect journalists to provide unbiased, fact-based reporting.
However, while the passive voice has numerous
advantages in news reporting, it can also be overused, leading to wordy and unclear writing. Journalists should strive to strike a balance between using the passive voice
to convey objectivity and clarity, and avoiding it when it becomes cumbersome or unclear.
In conclusion, the passive voice plays a crucial role
in English news reporting, allowing journalists to convey facts objectively and focus the reader's attention on the action or event itself. Its use in emphasizing new information, creating a sense of detachment and objectivity, and maintaining the credibility of news articles makes it
an invaluable tool for writers. However, it should be used sparingly and with caution to avoid creating unclear or unwieldy writing.。