Passive Voice | Definition, Examples & Use

Sentences can be in the passive voice (e.g., “The window was cleaned”) or the active voice (e.g., “He cleaned the window”). In the active voice, the “doer” of the action described by the verb is the grammatical subject of the sentence (“He cleaned…”), but in the passive voice, the subject is the “recipient” of this action (“The window was cleaned…”).

Choosing the passive voice allows us to make the sentence or clause “about” the recipient rather than the doer (or “agent”).

You construct the passive by using a form of the auxiliary verb be (e.g., “was”) and the past participle of the main verb (e.g., “cleaned”). If you want to mention the agent in the passive voice, it comes after the preposition by (e.g., “…was cleaned by him”).

Passive voice examples in a sentence
All the ingredients are cooled before mixing.

These ones are made by a different company.

It is scheduled for release next week.

They said the delivery had already been made.

When were these windows last cleaned?

The event is going to be held in New York, but the date has yet to be announced.

The movie has been slammed on social media.

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Inbetween or In Between | Meaning & Use

In between is always spelled as two words, but you need to hyphenate it to “in-between” if you use it as an adjective or a noun. “Inbetween” (one word) is always incorrect.

  • In between generally functions as a preposition of place (e.g., “The bakery is in between the cafe and the drug store”) or time (e.g., “We like to go there in between classes”).
  • Occasionally it’s a compound adjective (e.g., “It’s a kind of in-between stage”) or a noun (e.g., “You’re either with us or against us; there’s no in-between”); if you use it like this, it should be hyphenated.
Inbetween or in between in a sentence examples
  • Why don’t we put a small table in between the two windows?
  • Why don’t we put a small table inbetween the two windows?
  • There’s only an hour in between our two flights.
  • There’s only an hour inbetween our two flights.
  • The program features pop, rock, classical, and everything in between.
  • The program features pop, rock, classical, and everything inbetween.
  • I’ll be in meetings all day, but I’ll try and call you in between.
  • I’ll be in meetings all day, but I’ll try and call you inbetween.

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OK vs Okay | Difference & Spelling

OK and okay are alternative spellings of the same word and are both correct.

Whichever spelling you decide to use, the most important thing is to be consistent throughout your text. If you’re supposed to be following a particular style guide, make sure to check if it specifies using either “OK” or “okay.”

OK vs okay in a sentence examples
The food was OK/okay but nothing special.

Is it OK/okay if I bring a friend along?

Person A: Shall we meet outside the theater at six thirty?
Person B: OK/okay, see you there.

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Madam or Madame | Difference & Use

Madam is a polite way of addressing a woman (the equivalent of “sir”), but Madame (with an “e”) is sometimes used in English instead of “Mrs.” to address a woman from France or another French-speaking country.

Madam vs Madame
Madam in a sentence Madame in a sentence
Are you ready to order, madam? How are you Madame Dubois?
Follow me please, madam, your table is this way. Marie Tussaud, better known as Madame Tussaud, opened her wax museum in 1835.

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Stationary vs Stationery | Difference & Meaning

Stationary (spelled with an “a”) describes something that is “not moving,” while stationery (spelled with an “e”) means “writing materials” such as pens and paper.

So, if you want to write a letter, buy some stationery, but if you want to save on gas, turn off your engine whenever your car is stationary.

Stationary vs stationery
Stationary in a sentence Stationery in a sentence
The dog ran across the street between the stationary cars at the traffic lights. She wrote the letter on the paper from her personalized stationery set.
She thought she could see a dark, stationary figure standing under the tree. He found the pen in a convenience store that had a section selling greeting cards and stationery.
One man remained stationary while the rest of the crowd dispersed. They are having a sale on stationery and business cards this weekend.

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Preventive vs Preventative | Difference & Meaning

Preventive and preventative mean the same thing and are used interchangeably, but since most style guides recommend “preventive,” it’s the better choice for formal writing (e.g., academic writing).

  • The adjectives preventive and preventative both mean “intended to prevent,” and they are used interchangeably in both American and British English.
  • Preventive is used more frequently than preventative, especially in writing.
  • In spoken English, preventative is more common in the UK than it is in the US.
Preventive vs preventative in a sentence examples
The company has put in place preventive/preventative measures to avoid similar data breaches in the future.

Despite clear signs of financial instability, the CFO failed to take preventive/preventative action to avert the situation.

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Invoke vs Evoke | Meaning, Difference & Use

We use evoke to mean “cause” something (especially a feeling or a memory), but invoke to mean “apply” or “reference” (a law, principle or right).

  • Use evoke to mean “provoke” an emotional reaction or memory (e.g., “Her painting evokes feelings of warmth and comfort”), but invoke when this is done to intentionally to support an argument (e.g., “She invoked the memory of past civil rights leaders in her speech”).
  • Use invoke to mean “use” a law or right (e.g., “They could invoke Article 2 of the treaty”) or “ask for assistance” from a spirit, god etc. (e.g., “The villagers would say the prayer to invoke the rain gods”).
Invoke vs evoke examples
Invoke in a sentence Evoke in a sentence
  • Looking at the photo invoked some very happy memories.
  • Looking at the photo evoked some very happy memories.
  • She was criticized for purposefully invoking the words of such a controversial figure to justify her position.
  • She was criticized for purposefully evoking the words of such a controversial figure to justify her position.
  • He can invoke his fifth amendment right not to testify.
  • He can evoke his fifth amendment right not to testify.
  • The tribal ritual invokes the blessings of the participants’ ancestors.
  • The tribal ritual evokes the blessings of the participants’ ancestors.

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Peek vs Peak | Difference, Meaning & Spelling

Peek means to “look at something quickly,” while a peak is the highest point of something.

  • Peek can be used as a verb (e.g., “Did you peek at the gifts?) and a noun (e.g., “Did you take a peek at the gifts?”).
  • Peak can also be used as a verb (e.g., “We think the water level will peak at 20 ft”) and a noun (e.g., “The water was 20 ft high at the peak of the floods”).
Peek vs peak examples
Peek in a sentence Peak in a sentence
I caught him taking a peek at the answers to the test. The peak of the mountain rises to nearly 10,000 feet.
In tomorrow’s show, we’ll be taking a sneak peek at the latest phones to hit the market. Her training schedule is designed to ensure that she reaches the peak of her abilities at the Olympics.
He climbed on the bench so he could peek over the wall. Sales of our products usually peak in April.

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Cue vs Queue | Difference, Meaning & Examples

A queue is a line of people waiting for something, while a cue is a signal indicating that something should happen or a stick used to play games like pool and billiards.

  • Queue is mainly used in British English and means the same as “line” in American English.
  • Cue and queue are pronounced in the same way (i.e., they are homophones).
  • Queue is also frequently used as a verb.
Cue vs queue examples
Cue in a sentence Queue in a sentence
The sound of the gunshot is your cue to come on stage. There was a long queue at the checkout.
She gave him a quick nod as a cue to begin serving the coffee to the guests. How long was the queue for the rollercoaster?
His resignation was a cue for intense speculation about the company’s future. We had to queue for almost half an hour to check in to the hotel.

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Imbedded vs Embedded | Difference & Spelling

Imbedded is an alternative spelling of embedded. The two words can be used interchangeably, but embedded is much more common and is the recommended spelling in many style guides.

  • If something is embedded/imbedded in a material, it is fixed deeply and tightly in that material.
  • Embedded/imbedded is often used figuratively to express that something is a strong and important part of a larger whole.
Embedded or imbedded in a sentence examples
The archaeologists found a coin embedded/imbedded in the concrete foundations.

Tradition and respect are values that are deeply embedded/imbedded in the culture of the institution.

This new technology will soon become embedded/imbedded in our everyday lives.

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