Writing Tips
How to describe a process using passive voice
Example: The process of recycling glass bottles
Plan your writing - how many steps in the process - before you start. This will help keep your writing focused.
Use the passive voice to describe each step of the process, starting with the simplest and moving on to the more complex.
For example, "The glass is crushed into small pieces" followed by "The small pieces are sorted by color."
Write concisely - focus on what is happening to the glass, rather than who is doing the action.
Use strong verbs to describe the actions taking place. For example, "crushed," "sorted," "collected," and "recycled."
Follow these tips, so you can write a clear and concise description of a process using passive voice.
A typical recycling process for glass bottles
Example Steps- Glass bottles and jars are collected from homes, businesses, and recycling centers.
- The glass is sorted by color.
- The sorted glass is crushed into small pieces.
- The sorted glass is cleaned and inspected.
- The small pieces are heated until they melt.
- The glass is melted down and formed into new bottles and jars.
- The new bottles and jars are cooled and inspected.
Then try to add more detail to each step to describe the process.
- How are glass bottles and jars collected from homes, businesses, and recycling centers? In many areas, glass bottles and jars are recycled through curbside recycling programs. Homeowners and businesses place their recyclable glass in a special bin. It is then collected by a recycling company. The glass is then taken to a processing plant.
- How is the glass sorted by color? The glass is sorted by color at the processing plant. The most common colors of glass are clear, green, and brown. A machine called an optical sorter is used to sort the glass by color.
- How is the sorted glass crushed into small pieces? The sorted glass is crushed into small pieces. This process is called cullet. The cullet is then used to make new glass products.
- How is the glass cleaned? The glass is cleaned at the recycling plant using water and chemicals. The resulting sand-like material is used to make new glass products.
- How are the small pieces heated until they melt? The small pieces are heated until they melt. This process is called smelting. The molten glass is then used to make new glass products.
- How is the melted glass formed into new bottles and jars? The melted glass is formed into new bottles and jars using a machine called a mold. The mold gives the glass its shape. The molten glass is then cooled and solidified.
- How are the new glass bottles and jars cooled and inspected? The new glass bottles and jars are cooled and inspected using a machine called a lehr. The lehr cools the glass slowly using a controlled process. This helps to prevent defects in the glass. After cooling, the glass is inspected for quality.