In This Lesson
Page 1 (this page)
- First person point of view
- Second person point of view
- Third person point of view
- Why should you avoid the first and second person point of view in academic writing?
- Examples of ways to avoid the first person (”I”) in academic writing
Page 2
- Examples of ways to avoid the second person (”you”) in academic writing
- The “unnecessary you” exception
- ”One” or “people” replacing “your” or “we”
- Editing on-the-fly
- Word of caution for all types of writing
Practice 1. Practice revising academic sentences.
Can you use a first-person point of view (I, me, my, mine) in any kind of writing? Well, if you are the writer, you can do anything you want. However, we should write with our readers in mind, and they have certain expectations.
In this lesson, you will learn (a) about the first, second, and third person point of view and (b) how to avoid using the first person in academic writing.
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First Person Point of View (It’s about Me or Us)
First person point of view refers to I, me, my, mine, and myself (first person singular) or we, us, our, ours, and ourselves (first person plural).
When writers tell a story or share a personal experience, they use the first person. It is often used in fiction or whenever the writer is the focal point.
Using the first person makes the narrative very personal to the author. For example,
I applied for a research grant twice, but I never received any replies. My research depends on external funding. I am concerned that I may have to delay my research.
Second Person Point of View (It’s about You)
Second person point of view refers to you, your, and yours (second person singular or plural). It is used in letters, speeches, and short stories, for example, or whenever it makes sense for the writer to address the reader or readers directly. For example,
When you learn a new language, you should keep in mind that you will spend much of your time reading your textbook, watching videos, listening to lessons, and so on. You can make it a chore and feel discouraged, or you can learn to enjoy yourself.
Third Person Point of View (It’s about It or Them)
Third person point of view refers to
he, she, it, him, her, his, her, its, himself, herself, and
itself (singular) or
they, them, theirs, and
themselves (plural). It is used in all types of rhetorical modes when you speaks about something or someone other than the reader or yourself. By using the third person, the writer focuses on the topic or the idea in an essay or on the characters in a story. For example,
Participants in the study were college students. They received credit for their participation in the study. One of the participants was excluded from the study because she could not understand the investigators’ instructions in English very well.
Why Should You Avoid The First or Second Person in Academic Writing?
Academic writing should have a formal, objective tone. Rather than focusing on yourself, the writer, or focusing on your readers, you should focus on discussing or arguing the topic and your ideas.
Compare the following academic reports. The first uses the first person point of view. The other uses the more objective third person.
Editing from first to third person
Using the first person (focus on the researcher):
The results of my research showed a difference between the number of questions male and female participants used. I found that female participants asked 35% of the questions compared to male participants’ 11% of the questions. I propose that social roles and expectations can explain the gender difference in my results.
Using the third person (focus on the research):
Research results showed a difference in the number of questions male and female participants used. Female participants asked 35% of the questions compared to 11% of the questions for male participants. Such a difference can be explained by social roles and expectations.
Examples of Ways to Avoid the First Person in Academic Writing
Below are some possible ways to avoid using the first person in academic writing so that the focus changes from the writer to the topic or idea at hand.
Avoiding the first person in academic writing
Example 1
First person (focus on writer):
In this essay, I will present three main reasons that support my belief that community colleges should be free.
Third person (focus on topic):
Community colleges should be free for several reasons.
Example 2
First person (focus on writer):
I have found the story to be very patronizing to women.
Third person (focus on topic):
The story is very patronizing to women.
The story seems to be very patronizing to women.
Example 3
First person (focus on writer):
When I watched the video, my impression was that the presenter was insecure.
Third person (focus on topic):
The presenter in the video appeared insecure.
Example 4
First person (focus on writer):
In my opinion, the president should address this issue before it becomes a serious problem.
Third person (focus on topic):
The president should address this issue before it becomes a problem.
Example 5
First person (focus on writer):
Results the poll that I created showed that my students were satisfied with my course design.
Third person (focus on topic):
Poll results showed that students were satisfied with the course design.
Example 6
First person (focus on writer):
My analysis of this novel is that the author wants to address sexism in politics.
Third person (focus on topic):
The author of the novel addresses sexism in politics.
Up Next: Ways to Avoid the Second in Academic Writing
Continue the lesson to learn about avoiding the second person “you” in academic writing and more.