Sometimes the subject of a sentence is best left unstated, making it impersonal. One way of doing this is to use a passive construction beginning with the word it.
Nevertheless, if when revising your draft you find many sentences with this structure, consider whether there are better options that can accurately specify the subject using the active voice.
 | People may subsequently prove that such transitions are possible. Someone may subsequently prove that such transitions are possible. |
 | It may subsequently be proven that such transitions are possible. |
Nevertheless, if when revising your draft you find many sentences with this structure, consider whether there are better options that can accurately specify the subject using the active voice.
Universitat de Barcelona. Serveis Lingüístics
Darrera actualització: 6-4-2022
Recommended citation:
«The impersonal it» [en línia]. A: Llibre d’estil de la Universitat de Barcelona. Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona. Serveis Lingüístics. <https://www.ub.edu/llibre-estil/criteri.php?id=3376> [consulta: 24 novembre 2024].
