http://www.englishforums.com/English/FormalGeneralBusinessLetter-Writing/Forum5.htmFormal letter-writing questions, how to write a cover letter, general, business, official, reference, character, leave, sponsorship, or invitation letter, CVs, writing to an English company, Learn how to start and end a letter.enXMOD (Build: 3715.30106)http://www.englishforums.com/English/ActiveOrPassive/gxllb/post.htm#573357Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:46:15 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:573357Pleasecorrectme0http://www.englishforums.com/English/ActiveOrPassive/gxllb/post.htm#573357http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments5-573357.xmlWow! I AM AMAZED ! You have explained it so well! Thank you so much ! I understand now ! Thank you!!! I AM GOING TO TRY TO WRITE ONE! Hope you can correct me as much as possible because my english exam is 17 days awayhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/ActiveOrPassive/gxllb/post.htm#573296Tue, 18 Aug 2009 23:46:15 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:573296Avangi1http://www.englishforums.com/English/ActiveOrPassive/gxllb/post.htm#573296http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments5-573296.xmlHi, You seem to have a good grasp of the situation. Both the advisories you received are sound. Active voice is more direct, and English speakers like directness. Some people have a habit of beginning too many sentences with "I," which makes their correspondence unpleasant to read. But, as you say, sometimes YOU are the subject of the correspondence, so you may as well get to the point. If you read over what you've written, and feel there are too many "I's," you may wish to flip some to passive. "I finished the project on Tuesday," can become, "The project was finished on Tuesday," as long as the information that YOU are the one who did it is either obvious or unimportant. Your proposed...http://www.englishforums.com/English/ActiveOrPassive/gxllb/post.htmThu, 18 Jun 2009 23:46:15 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:573275Pleasecorrectme2http://www.englishforums.com/English/ActiveOrPassive/gxllb/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments5-573275.xmlI am very confuse with what the information the websites provided. In some website on formal writing, they said: Use active rather than passive voice. e.g. "I broke my promise." In other website, some say cut down on the usage of ' I, my ... ' ? Which to use? Which not to use? Does it depend on whom the letter is addressed to? I am writing a formal letter to recommend the best idea, and the letter is for the principal of the school. I need to start by introducing myself . What are the best ways to start? like this? --> e.g. ' I am YCC , the vice-president of the school's asdf Society. I have ... ' ( Is this a good start ? But in active voice ? )