Achieving Objectivity

Objectivity in Arabic isn't just one rule; it's a toolkit of grammatical strategies designed to shift focus from the doer (subject) to the action or the result. In English, we might just use the passive voice. In Arabic, we have a richer buffet of options. You're essentially ghosting your own sentence—you made it happen, but you're nowhere to be found in the text. We rely heavily on the Passive Voice (al-mabnī lil-majhūl), Verbal Nouns (al-maṣādir), and specific auxiliary constructions like the famous tamma + Maṣdar combo.

1. 1Here is your recipe for turning a subjective feeling into an objective fact:
2. 2The "Tamma" Maneuver: Instead of conjugating a verb for a specific person, use the verb tamma (to be completed) followed by the Verbal Noun (Maṣdar) of your main action.
3. 3Subjective: nāqashnā al-khiṭṭa (We discussed the plan).
4. 4Objective: tamma munāqashat al-khiṭṭa (Discussion of the plan was completed).
5. 5The Passive Flip: Conjugate the verb to hide the subject.
6. 6Subjective: kataba al-taqrīr (He wrote the report).
7. 7Objective: kutiba al-taqrīr (The report was written).
8. 8Impersonal Openers: Start sentences with phrases that imply general consensus rather than personal opinion.
9. 9Use: min al-maʿrūf anna (It is known that...), yulāḥaẓ anna (It is noted that...).
10. 10Instead of: aʿrifu anna (I know that...), arā anna (I see that...).
11. 11Abstract Attribution: Attribute actions to inanimate objects or abstract concepts.
12. 12Subjective: wajadtu fī al-dirāsa (I found in the study).
13. 13Objective: tushīru al-dirāsa (The study indicates).

This is your go-to register for formal contexts. Use it in:

• Academic Papers: Your professor doesn't care what *you* believe; they care what the evidence suggests.
• Media and Journalism: To sound unbiased (even if you aren't).
• Legal Documents: Where precision is key and personal agency is irrelevant unless specifying liability.
• Scientific Reports: Because gravity doesn't care about your feelings.
• Formal Debates: To sound like the adult in the room.

Don't be a robot at a dinner party. Avoid this when:

• Sharing Personal Stories: "It was felt by the heart that sad emotions were experienced" sounds ridiculous. Just say, "I was sad."
• Casual Messaging: Your friends will think you've been replaced by an AI.
• Creative Writing/Poetry: Unless you're writing a poem about bureaucracy (which sounds terrible, by the way).
• Apologizing: tamma irtikāb khaṭa' (A mistake was committed) is the classic non-apology apology. Use it if you're a politician; avoid it if you want your spouse to forgive you.

• Overusing Tam: While tamma is great, overusing it makes your text clunky. Mix it up with true passive verbs.
• The Dangling Modifier: In English, we worry about dangling modifiers. In Arabic, ensure the Maṣdar actually makes sense with the verb tamma. You can't say tamma al-rajul (The man was completed). That sounds like he was under construction.
• Ignoring Case Endings: When you switch to passive, the object (mafʿūl bihi) becomes the deputy subject (nā'ib fāʿil) and takes the nominative case (marfūʿ). Don't forget to switch your fatḥa to a ḍamma!

• Passive vs. Objectivity: All passive sentences are objective, but not all objective sentences are passive. You can be objective using active verbs if the subject is abstract (e.g., "Data shows").
• Formal vs. Archaic: You want to sound modern professional, not like a 7th-century poet. Avoid overly flowery language (balāgha) if it obscures the facts.

Q: Can I never use "I" in academic Arabic?

Rarely. If you must, refer to yourself as al-bāḥith (the researcher) or use the royal "we" (narā - we see), though even that is fading in favor of pure impersonal structures.

Q: Is tamma better than the classic passive?

In Modern Standard Arabic (media/press), tamma is clearer because Arabic script often lacks vowels. kutiba looks like kataba without vowels, but tamma kitābat is unambiguous. That's why news tickers love it.