How does the converter decide the active version?

It finds the passive construction (be/get + past participle), looks for the doer in a “by …” phrase, moves that doer to the front, and re-inflects the verb to match the original tense: “was written by the manager” becomes “the manager wrote.” Perfect, progressive, modal and future forms are handled (“has been reviewed by counsel” → “counsel has reviewed”).

What if the sentence does not say who did it?

Then no software can know, and a tool that guesses will put words in your mouth. The converter shows the sentence with a “[Who?]” placeholder and the verb already converted, so you only have to supply the doer. If nobody did it, or it does not matter who did, keep the passive.

Can I convert active to passive?

Yes — use the active to passive voice converter, which builds the passive form from a subject, verb and object in any tense.

Will it change my meaning?

The rewrite keeps the same words and the same tense; it only changes the order and the verb form. Complex sentences — a relative clause before the verb, two passives in one sentence — are flagged for you to rewrite by hand rather than converted automatically.

Does it handle "it is believed that…" sentences?

It recognises reporting passives (“it is said/believed/thought that…”) and offers “[Who?] believes that…” so you can name the source. Those constructions are conventional in news and academic writing when the source is unknown or deliberately unnamed.

Your private writing desk

Passive to active voice converter

Paste your text. Every passive sentence comes back rewritten in the active voice where the doer is named, and flagged for you where it is not. Copy the converted text when you are done.

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A clearer sentence starts with a question: who did the action? Learn how to fix it

Bring your words.

An email, an essay, a chapter. Paste your draft and make yourself at home.

See what stands out.

Follow the highlights. We explain the passive voice without treating every instance as a mistake.

Make it your own.

Review an active alternative, keep what works, and copy your results.

A note from your writing desk

Passive voice has its place.

“My bike was stolen” works beautifully when you don’t know the doer. Use the highlights as a second opinion. You’re still the editor.

When to keep passive voice

Converting passive to active, step by step

Every passive sentence has three parts: a thing that receives the action, a verb in the form be + past participle, and sometimes a doer tucked into a “by” phrase. The active version puts the doer first, uses the plain verb, and ends with the receiver.

Passive

The claim was denied by the adjuster.

Active

The adjuster denied the claim.

When the doer is missing, you have to supply one. “The claim was denied” could become “The adjuster denied the claim,” “We denied the claim,” or “The carrier denied the claim” — and the choice matters, which is why the converter asks instead of guessing.

Tense survives the conversion

Passive	Active
The form is signed by the applicant.	The applicant signs the form.
The form was signed by the applicant.	The applicant signed the form.
The form is being signed by the applicant.	The applicant is signing the form.
The form has been signed by the applicant.	The applicant has signed the form.
The form had been signed by the applicant.	The applicant had signed the form.
The form will be signed by the applicant.	The applicant will sign the form.
The form must be signed by the applicant.	The applicant must sign the form.
The form needs to be signed by the applicant.	The applicant needs to sign the form.

When not to convert

The APA Style guidance permits both voices and reserves the passive for when the recipient of the action is the point. The federal plain-language guidelines prefer active voice because it shows who is responsible, and allow passive when the law itself is the only actor. In practice, keep the passive when the doer is unknown (“The window was broken overnight”), obvious (“The defendant was found guilty”), or less important than the receiver (“Penicillin was discovered in 1928”). The converter marks those cases rather than forcing a rewrite.

Questions

How does the converter decide the active version?: It finds the passive construction (be/get + past participle), looks for the doer in a “by …” phrase, moves that doer to the front, and re-inflects the verb to match the original tense: “was written by the manager” becomes “the manager wrote.” Perfect, progressive, modal and future forms are handled (“has been reviewed by counsel” → “counsel has reviewed”).
What if the sentence does not say who did it?: Then no software can know, and a tool that guesses will put words in your mouth. The converter shows the sentence with a “[Who?]” placeholder and the verb already converted, so you only have to supply the doer. If nobody did it, or it does not matter who did, keep the passive.
Can I convert active to passive?: Yes — use the active to passive voice converter, which builds the passive form from a subject, verb and object in any tense.
Will it change my meaning?: The rewrite keeps the same words and the same tense; it only changes the order and the verb form. Complex sentences — a relative clause before the verb, two passives in one sentence — are flagged for you to rewrite by hand rather than converted automatically.
Does it handle "it is believed that…" sentences?: It recognises reporting passives (“it is said/believed/thought that…”) and offers “[Who?] believes that…” so you can name the source. Those constructions are conventional in news and academic writing when the source is unknown or deliberately unnamed.