Here's a question for English pedants (like me!).
"(He) turned towards Elinor with what he hoped a winning smile..."
"(He) turned towards Elinor with what he hoped was a winning smile..."
This is Napoleonic period military fiction. I wrote the first: editor thinks the second. Bearing in mind modern readers' sensibilities, what do you think - 'not was' (active but needs more effort) or 'was' (passive but easy to read)?
Dor, you're right - it depends on context. So by the same token 'Zombies', despite being funny and easy to remember, won't always work, Ergo, it's not a 'rule.'
Although to judge by other English grammar 'rules' it probably is one. Sort of ;)
Use of the word "was" doesn't automatically make a sentence passive.
The rule according to Rebecca Johnson, USMC culture and ethics prof: if you can insert the phrase "by zombies" after the verb, it's a passive sentence.
Thanks to all for the comments - looks like the editor wins. I've had basically the same response elsewhere :(
Thank you, Victoria. I agree completely xx