Should You Avoid the First Person in Academic Writing? (Page 2): Snap Language™

Should You Avoid Using the First Person in Academic Writing? (If so, how?) | Page 2

Examples of Ways to Avoid the Second in Academic Writing

Avoiding the third person is not always straightforward. Sometimes you may need to put some thought into it and move parts of the sentence around. Below are some possible ways to avoid using the second person in academic writing to address the topic rather than the reader.

Avoiding the third person in academic writing

Example 1

Second person (focus on the reader):

(to the readers)

You can find more information on this topic in “Rebel with a Clause” by Ellen Jovin.

Third person (focus on topic):

You can find more information on this topic in “Rebel with a Clause” by Ellen Jovin.

“Rebel with a Clause” by Ellen Jovin has more information on this topic.

Example 2

Second person (focus on the reader):

(to voters)

You should always learn about your candidates before casting your ballots.

Third person (focus on topic):

Voters should always learn about their candidates before casting their ballots.

Example 3

Second person (focus on the reader):

(to attendees)

It is recommended you should bring your own food and beverages to the workshops.

Third person (focus on topic):

Workshop attendees should bring their own food and beverages.

Bringing food and beverages to the workshops is recommended.

Example 4

Second person (focus on the reader):

(to students)

For this assignment, you must write at least three body paragraphs.

Third person (focus on topic):

This assignment requires at least three body paragraphs.

Example 5

Second person (focus on the reader):

(to people in general)

When you have the flu, you can protect others around you by wearing a face mask.

Third person (focus on topic):

When people have the flu, they can protect others around them by wearing a face mask.

Example 6

Second person (focus on the reader):

(to no one in particular)

After watching this video, you will understand the difference between A and B.

Third person (focus on topic):

This video shows the difference between A and B.

The So-Called “Unnecessary You” Exception

When using commands (the imperative form of the verb), you are in effect addressing the reader. Yet, avoiding the second person is problematic. For example, you will often see “See Table X” or “Compare the differences shown in Figure X.”

The so-called unnecessary “you” is often used to with “you should” or “you must,” where a direct command hiding the “you” is enough, albeit very direct. For example:

Editing the “unnecessary you”

Example 1

You should plan your essay before you start writing.
Plan your essay before you start writing.

Example 2

You must turn in your assignments on Tuesday, please.
Please turn in your assignments on Tuesday.

“One” or “People” Replacing “Your” or “We”

“One” as well as “someone,” “everyone,” and “anyone” can be used to replace the second person pronoun “you,” particularly when it refers to people in general. Similarly, you could use “people” or “the individual,” which makes the sentence less formal.

Using “one” or “people”

Example 1

Second person point of view

Sometimes you must put yourself first and take care of your needs.

Third person point of view

Sometimes people must put themselves first and take care of their needs.
Sometimes individuals must put themselves first and take care of their needs.
Sometimes one must put oneself first and take care of one’s needs.

Note

Note that the changed sentences above become increasingly formal.

Example 2

First person point of view

We must pass legislation to control environmental pollution.

Third person point of view

One must pass legislation to control environmental pollution.
Someone must pass legislation to control environmental pollution.
People must pass legislation to control environmental pollution.

Using a more specific third-person agent

Legislators must pass legislation to control environmental pollution.
The federal government must pass legislation to control environmental pollution.
Congress must pass legislation to control environmental pollution

Note

By using the “one,” “someone,” or “people” in the above sentences, the writer appears to be (perhaps willfully, perhaps diplomatically) avoiding holding anyone direct responsibility. In contrast, the last three statements name the responsible parties explicitly.

Do Not Be Afraid to Revise On the Fly

Writing is a dynamic process. When I write (if I may use first person point of view here), I often find myself writing and rewriting a sentence several times before moving on to the next sentence. Once a draft is completed, I revise it several times, rewriting a sentence until I find what I consider the best way to express an idea to my reader.

When writing an academic essay, paper, or report, do not feel that you must commit to “fixing” a particular iteration of a sentence you just wrote. Sometimes, it is best to delete it just start over.

Editing on-the-fly

Example

Let’s say you are using the third person and you notice the first iteration of a sentence uses the second person as in the example below:

You absolutely must start treatment early if you want to see the best possible outcomes.

After a few failed attempts to reword it to use the third person, you might want to simply start over and come up with

For the best possible outcomes, it is important to start treatment early.
Starting treatment early is important to yield the best possible outcomes.
Crucially, the best possible outcomes result from starting treatment early.
An early start is vital for the best possible treatment outcomes.

Note that each revision focuses on different aspects of the treatment (i.e., the outcomes, the course of action, the importance of an early start). It is up to you, the writer, to select the sentence that best expresses the intended message.

Word of Caution for All Types of Writing

When it comes to writing and grammar, absolute statements are problematic such as “Never use the first person in formal writing,” or “Never use the passive voice unless ‘strictly’ necessary,” or even “Do not split infinitives.” Even in academic writing, sometimes using something other than the third person is inevitable. For example, academic writers often address the reader directly as in “Refer to Table 1.”

Moreover, sometimes not breaking some obscure, prescriptive rule results in awkward, stilted sentences. The fix can be worse than the purported problem.

What is the rule, then? Can you never use a first person point of view in formal writing (especially in academic writing)? What if you are writing about a personal experience?

It’s about your readers, not about you. If your writing is academic, your readers expect you to be objective and impartial. In contrast, your readers expect you to be subjective and engaged with your own story if you are writing about a personal experience. In this situation, attempting to use the third person will prove extremely difficult; it would very likely produce odd results.

For example, it sounds natural for a research scientist to write objectively about a study she conducted:

The experimenter asked participants to complete a questionnaire.

In contrast, it would likely come across as bizarre to the reader if a journalist reported objectively her subjective, personal experience in her article:

The author of the present article experienced this issue firsthand when she worked for a large company after she finished college.

It would appear to the reader as if writer were trying to distance herself from the narrative by being overly formal, clinical even, rather than connecting with her own story.

The bottom line

Be judicious. Use the point of view that is appropriate for the type of writing and that helps the reader understand the message without unnecessary distractions.

Sometimes “breaking the rule” is better than coming up with an awkward sentence.

If it is appropriate to get personal, use the first person. If you need to address your readers directly, use the second person. To present ideas objectively, use the third person, the preferred point of view in academic writing.

Back to page 1

Congratulations on completing this material!

Thanks to our supporters!

This material has been made possible by supporters like you. Learn how you can support us.

“What should I learn next?”

Use the buttons below to choose another skill or another lesson in this skill.

Thank you for Supporting Snap Language

Snap Language supporters make the creation of these materials possible.

Learn how you can support our work, get perks, and help us continue creating high-quality materials.

You can support us by simply white-listing this site.