Use action verbs unless you have reason not to. Here are three stories. The action verb (transitive active) is in red, the transitive passive verb is in blue, and the to be verb is in green.

           a) Invasive species can destabilize ecosystems.

b) Ecosystems can be destabilized by invasive species.

c) Ecosystem destabilization can be the consequence of invasion by certain species.

Which sentence requires more work to understand? (c)

Which uses the most words? (c)

Which uses the most abstract nouns? (c)

Which might impress an unknowing reader? (c)

Which would not impress a knowledgeable reader? (c)

When would transitive passive be better than transitive active?