Write clear instructions by using the active voice and imperative mood.

The Command You Want: Clear Instructions with Active Voice and Imperative Mood

If you’ve ever followed a user manual that felt like a maze, you know how frustrating it can be when the reader isn’t sure who should do what. Clarity in technical writing isn’t a nice-to-have—it’s the engine that keeps people from guessing and guessing wrong. So, let’s cut to the chase: for instructions, the sweet spot is active voice paired with the imperative mood. It’s direct, it’s fast, and it gets the job done without making the reader work harder than necessary.

Let me explain why these choices matter and how you can put them into practice right away.

Active voice: show the actor, quickly and clearly

In act-and-do language, the subject of the sentence performs the verb. That’s what makes active voice so readable. When you write, “The technician powers up the machine,” you immediately signal who is responsible and what happens next. The reader doesn’t have to hunt for the agent or the action—it’s right there, front and center.

Compare that with passive voice: “The machine is powered up by the technician.” The action is there, sure, but the actor — the technician — becomes a little harder to pin down. The focus shifts away from the doer and toward the event. In many instruction scenarios, that subtle shift slows comprehension and invites uncertainty about who should act.

In a real-world manual, every extra word that doesn’t directly contribute to action is a drag. Active voice helps you trim the fat: it makes your sentences crisper, your steps more predictable, and your readers less likely to pause and re-read. It’s not a moral victory; it’s a practical one.

Imperative mood: commands that land

Now, what about the imperative mood? That’s the form you use when you’re issuing commands, directions, or requests. In English, the imperative commonly uses the base verb with an understood subject of you: “Press the start button,” “Install the panel,” “Save your work.” The reader feels addressed—like you’re speaking directly to them, right here, right now.

The imperative mood is especially powerful for short, step-by-step actions. It’s succinct, it’s memorable, and it reduces ambiguity. If I say, “Click Save,” you know exactly what to do next. If I say, “Save,” it’s still imperative, but in many contexts the shortened form reads more briskly and keeps the rhythm of a procedure moving.

Here’s the key thing to remember: imperative commands don’t have to be harsh or abrasive. You can be clear and polite at the same time. Phrasing like “Press the start button” or “Connect the cable” is direct without sounding bossy. When you pair imperative verbs with a reader-centered tone, you create a pathway that guides action smoothly.

Why this pairing makes sense for technical content

• Clarity and speed: People skim procedures. Short, active sentences help readers pick up the next action quickly.

• Readability at a glance: Present tense imperative lines look like a checklist. They invite quick execution and reduce cognitive load.

• Consistency builds trust: If every instruction uses the same pattern, readers don’t have to re-interpret mid-steps.

• Safety and accountability: In many contexts, you want to make it explicit who is responsible for each action. Active voice with imperative mood satisfies that need in a straightforward way.

A simple side-by-side to illustrate

• Passive + indicative: “The alarm is reset after the steps are completed.” (Hazy about who does what.)

• Active + imperative (recommended): “Reset the alarm after you complete the steps.” (Clear, direct, actionable.)

• Active + imperative (polite option): “Reset the alarm, please, after you complete the steps.” (Adds courtesy without losing clarity.)

Where to mix in other moods or voices

There are moments when passive or more formal constructions have a place. Safety-critical manuals sometimes prefer stronger modal language that emphasizes requirements, such as “The device must be powered on by the operator.” In those cases, the emphasis is on obligation or compliance rather than who performs the action. You can still keep readings clear by tying the requirement to a specific, testable action and using consistent terminology.

The important thing is not to default to passive as a habit. Use it strategically, where the focus is on the action or on responsibility rather than on who acts. For day-to-day instructions, however, the default should be active voice with imperative mood for the reasons above.

Tips to craft crisp, command-ready instructions

• Lead with action verbs:power, press, insert, configure, verify. Strong verbs carry the instruction more efficiently than weak or nominal forms.

• Keep sentences short and focused: one action per sentence works well. If you need more detail, break it into a new step.

• Use the second-person implied subject: “Connect the cable” or “Install the drive” feels immediate and personal without sounding prescriptive in a harsh way.

• Build parallel structure: start each step with the same grammatical form. For example, “Connect, power, verify” creates a predictable rhythm that guides the reader.

• Prefer present tense: “Click,” not “Clicked,” “Plugs in,” not “Plugs in were.” Present tense reads as current and actionable.

• Cut filler and passive wrappers: avoid words that don’t add value. If a sentence can lose a filler and still stay clear, trim it.

• Cross-check for pronouns: make sure it’s obvious who performs each action. If a step could be misread, rephrase to remove ambiguity.

A few concrete examples you can reuse

• Turn on the device. (Imperative, direct, concise.)

• Check that the indicator is green before proceeding. (Active voice, clear condition.)

• Remove the power cord, wait five seconds, and reconnect it. (Parallel structure, crisp sequencing.)

• The file should be saved before closing. (This is passive with a suggestion; use it sparingly and only when the actor isn’t important.)

• Add the component, then tighten the fastener to 12 Newton-meters. (Explicit, measurable action.)

If you want to sound approachable while staying precise, mix in a few reader-friendly cues: “Next, you’ll want to,” “Now, do this,” or “After that, confirm.” These aren’t strictly imperative forms, but they keep the flow natural and avoid sounding robotic.

Polish and style: guardrails that keep your writing humane

• Consistency rules: pick a voice and stick with it. If you start with imperative commands, don’t slip into long passive sentences in the middle.

• Plain language matters: avoid jargon when a simpler word works. Readers breathe a sigh of relief when a manual feels friendly, not fortress-like.

• Visual pacing: pair steps with bullets or numbered lists. A clean layout helps readers move through procedures without losing track.

• Readability checks: tools like the Microsoft Manual of Style, IBM Style Guide, or business-friendly references from The Chicago Manual of Style offer practical guidance. For readability, aim for a Flesch Reading Ease around 80—clear, breezy, easy to skim.

• Include minimal but precise safety notes: if you must describe a safety constraint, state the action clearly and avoid buried cautions in long sentences.

Reality checks and digressions you’ll appreciate

Let’s be honest: most users aren’t going to memorize a wall of instructions. They skim, they jump to the relevant steps, they rely on consistent cues, and they expect clarity to feel almost second nature. That’s the heart of technical communication: reduce friction. When your sentences say who does what and tell them exactly what to do, you’re giving readers a map, not a riddle.

While we’re here, a quick tangent that matters in every field: visuals aren’t merely decorative. A clean diagram or a labeled screenshot can carry more weight than a paragraph. Pair each essential image with a short, imperative caption—keeps the action anchored in the reader’s mind. And yes, the captions should mirror the same voice as the steps: direct, active, and concise.

Putting it into practice in your writing toolkit

• Start with a quick song-and-dance of verbs: list the actions your procedure requires, then turn each into an imperative sentence.

• Build a one-page checklist for the reader: “Power on, verify, proceed to next step, save.” A checklist reinforces the writer’s intent and makes the flow scannable.

• Review with a reader hat on: read aloud and ask, “Who does this, and what happens next?” If the actor isn’t obvious, rewrite.

• Use templates that embrace consistency: a standard procedure template with a clear lead-in, numbered steps, and a brief conclusion helps readers know what to expect with every new task.

Where this approach shines

In any field that relies on equipment, software, or process conformance—engineering, healthcare tech, manufacturing, or IT—clear, directive instructions are priceless. Readers aren’t looking for flowery prose; they want confidence that the action they take will yield the right result, every single time. Active voice with imperative mood gives them that confidence in a crisp, human-friendly package.

Final thought: make commands feel like a hand on the reader’s shoulder

There’s a quiet art to issuing commands with warmth. You don’t want to sound bossy; you want to sound helpful—like a guide who’s walked the path and is signaling the exact next step. When you write with active voice and imperative mood, you invite readers to act, verify, and proceed. The result isn’t just instruction; it’s empowerment—the sense that using the product or system is straightforward, intuitive, and, yes, a little bit satisfying.

So, next time you sit down to draft a set of instructions, start with the action. Frame it in active voice. Keep the mood imperative where it matters most. And watch how quickly your readers move with you—clear, efficient, and a touch more confident in every step.