Often novice writers mistakenly believe that to sound 'academic' they need to write using the passive verb form. This often leads to sentences that place the 'topic' into an introductory prepositional phrase, and often end up placing totally 'new' information in subject position, the place usually reserved for 'given' or old information. Although this structure may be acceptable in Finnish, it produces sentences that are very difficult to read in English.

To solve this problem, follow these three steps. First, remove the topic from the prepositional phrase and get rid of the prepositional clause completely. Then, place the topic into the grammatical 'subject' position. Finally, go back and change that passive verb to its active form. Notice how much easier it is to read the revised version in the examples below.

Overuse of “IN” + passive

Topic hidden in prepositional phrase: In logistics, simple transaction data and averaging are often used to allocate direct costs.   Topic in subject position: Logistics often uses simple transaction data and averaging to allocate direct costs.

The same principle also holds true when the intoductory element is formed from a relative pronoun, such as where ( = in which).

Top heavy, verb at end: In addition to each separate variable, a forecasting model was built, where the interactions between the variables were taken into account.   New information at end after the verb: In addition to each separate variable, a forecasting model was built, which takes into account the interactions between the variables.

Overuse of “BY” + passive

When the intoductory element is by or with expressing the 'means' for accomplishing an action, you can use the verbs enable, allow or permit as the main verb to move 'new' information to a position after the verb.

Topic hidden in prepositional phrase: By collecting more data , a much deeper understanding of the cost behaviour of an activity and products can be achieved.   Topic in subject position: Collecting more data enables/ allows/ permits a much deeper understanding of the cost behaviour of an activity and products to be achieved.