First vs. third person
Pronouns are a set of words that replace nouns. They can be used to make your work less complicated and less repetitive. Examples of pronouns include:
- First person: I, we, me, us
- Second person: you
- Third person: he, she, it, they, him, her, them
For some assignments, it is appropriate to use the first person. However, for other assignments the third person is preferred. Sometimes a mixture of the first and third person should be used for different purposes. So, check your assignment guidelines for each assignment, as it will differ for different assignment types, different style guides, and different disciplines. If you are unsure, then check with your course coordinator.
First person preference
The first person can be used to make writing more concise when providing personal reflection, stating a position, or outlining the structure of an assignment.
Some disciplines/lecturers allow or encourage the use of first or second person ('I', 'we', 'you', etc.). The use of the first person is also recommended/allowed in some style guides. For example, in the American Psychological Association Publication Manual (6th ed.) it is recommended that authors use the first person to avoid ambiguity and anthropomorphism.
How to use the first person
The following examples illustrate some ways you can use the first person in your writing.
In this essay, I will argue that gender and ethnicity factors affect buying behaviours.
I will argue that gender and ethnicity factors affect buying behaviours.
The essay will examine how gender and ethnicity factors affect buying behaviour.
I found that...
We informed participants that...
The authors informed participants that...
We compared...
Our comparison of...
The table compared...
Avoiding subjectivity using the first person
Academic training requires students to support the claims they make by providing solid arguments and/or evidence. So, even when the first person is used in academic writing it can, and usually should, still sound objective.
How to sound objective using the first person when making a claim or stating an argument
The following examples illustrate ways to use the first person in your writing while sounding objective (i.e. making it clear that you are not just expressing an unsupported personal view and that you are concerned about facts and/or reasons rather than being influenced by personal feelings or biases).
I will argue that assisting developing countries to grow crops, such as tobacco and opium poppies, is not in their best long-term interests.
I think that assisting developing countries to grow crops, such as tobacco and opium poppies, is not in their best long-term interests.
I feel that assisting developing countries to grow crops, such as tobacco and opium poppies, is not in their best long-term interests.
The evidence I presented above indicates that paying benefits to high school students encourages them to stay at school when they would be better off in paid employment.
In my opinion, paying benefits to high-school students encourages them to stay at school when they would be better off in paid employment.
I believe that paying benefits to high-school students encourages them to stay at school when they would be better off in paid employment.
I have presented reasons why educationalists need training in observing pupil behaviour to pick up on unexpressed needs.
As a teacher, I believe teachers need training in observing pupil behaviour to pick up on unexpressed needs.
How to use the first person in reflective writing
Reflective writing relies on personal experience, so it is necessary to use the first person.
The following examples illustrate some ways to use the first person in Reflective writing.
I found this experience positive...
I witnessed...
I succeeded in...
I achieved my goal...
I could have reacted differently in this situation...
Third person preference
Many disciplines/lecturers discourage the use of the first or second person ('I', 'we', 'you', etc.) and prefer the use of the third person because it makes writing sound objective.
How to avoid the first person
The following examples illustrate ways to write without using the first person.
How gender and ethnicity factors affect buying behaviours will be examined.
Careful examination of gender and ethnicity factors shows how these affect buying behaviour.
In this essay, I will examine how gender and ethnicity factors affect buying behaviours.
Assisting developing countries to grow crops such as tobacco and opium poppies is not in their best long-term interests.
I think that assisting developing countries to grow crops such as tobacco and opium poppies is not in their best long-term interests.
Paying benefits to high school students encourages them to stay at school when they would be better off in paid employment.
In my opinion, paying benefits to high-school students encourages them to stay at school when they would be better off in paid employment.
Educationalists need training in observing pupil behaviour to pick up on unexpressed needs.
As a teacher, I believe teachers need training in observing pupil behaviour to pick up on unexpressed needs.
It was found that...
Participants in this study were informed that...
We informed participants that...
I found that...