Writing in third person refers to writing from an objective point of view without using first person pronouns like I, we or second person pronouns like you. In third person writing, the narrative is presented from an outside perspective and the writer distances themselves from the story by referring to characters, including themselves if part of the story, by their proper names or third person pronouns like he, she, it or they.
Compared to first or second person narratives which employ a more subjective point of view, third person writing aims to provide a more impartial account of events, descriptions, ideas or situations by avoiding direct references or involvement of the narrator. It allows the story or content to unfold without directly addressing the reader or placing emphasis on the writer’s opinions, biases or state of mind.
There are a few styles of third person narration that are commonly used in academic, journalistic and fictional writing. The most prevalent are the third person omniscient point of view and third person limited point of view.
In the third person omniscient style, the narrator knows the thoughts, feelings and actions of all characters as well as events happening elsewhere. The narration is not confined to any single character’s perspective. This gives the writer flexibility to shift between viewpoints and reveal more than what any single character is aware of. It provides a god-like perspective over the entire story world.
While this grants the narrator an all-knowing view, it risks seeming impersonal or artificial if not handled carefully. Revealing too much insider information about characters can undermine their privacy and mystique. Maintaining consistency across shifting viewpoints is also challenging. Nonetheless, when executed skillfully, third person omniscient lends itself well to epic novels depicting large casts and sweeping plots across diverse settings.
A more focused variant employed commonly is the third person limited point of view. Here, the narration is confined exclusively to the perspective of a single character. The readers only know what that character experiences through their senses and comprehends through their state of mind. While more intimate and engaging by getting into a character’s head, it limits the narrative scope compared to omniscient third person.
Maintaining a tight third person limited lens requires careful selection of the primary character and avoids shifting viewpoints except through that character’s interactions and observations of others. Done effectively, it builds reader identification with and insight into that character while hinting at mysteries beyond their ken. It works well for psychological novels, mysteries and stories where a single character’s arc is central.
Whether writing fiction, non-fiction or journalism in third person, following some established conventions aids an objective, believable narrative tone:
Refer to characters by name or descriptive terms like “the man”, “she”, instead of subjective pronouns.
Avoid directly addressing the reader through pronouns like “you”.
Do not include first person opinions, thoughts or inferences stated directly through “I think…”, “in my view…”.
Maintain consistent past tense for consistency unless indicating a simultaneity of action demands present tense.
Apply narrative distance by summarizing actions rather than verbatim play-by-play dramatization which risks shifting to a more subjective viewpoint.
Maintain a dispassionate style avoiding emotive, value-laden qualifiers to descriptions and actions.
Use attributive tags sparingly instead of subjective interpretations for character actions and speech.
Some key benefits of third person narratives include granting a sense of authority, credibility and impartiality to non-fiction accounts through objective removed storytelling. It creates believable distance between narrator and subject matter, allowing readers to form their own interpretation independent of the biases or psychology of the author.
For fiction, third person opens opportunities for plot complexity through flexibly shifting viewpoints, building suspense by limiting perspective to a single character’s knowledge while hinting at unknown factors. It facilitates reader engagement through identification with and understanding of characters encountered in the story world.
Third person also poses some challenges for fledgling writers to navigate. Maintaining consistency across varied points of view risks confusing the audience. Impartial detached language can seem dry and lack emotive immediacy if not counterbalanced through skillful characterization and scene-setting. Depth of insight into character interiors may be limited in third person limited compared to first person intimacy.
For academic or research writing, third person fosters credibility but risks tedium if not carefully structured and well-paced. Merely stating facts detachedly from an unspecified external narrator’s perspective can grate without meaningful analysis or interpretation. Bias-free objectivity proves difficult to achieve fully in practice for any presentation of information on human subjects and situations.
Nonetheless, when executed well, third person storytelling establishes an indispensable mode of writing across disciplines. Its distance grants authority and breadth while characterization anchors empathy. Subtlety, nuance and fidelity to human complexity present both challenges and opportunities for creation of memorable third person narratives that vividly illuminate interior and social worlds through outside eyes. Mastery of this versatile perspective remains a distinguishing mark of a skilled wordsmith across eras and genres.
Third person writing offers a broadly applicable approach for introducing impartiality, credibility and removed perspective in storytelling across disciplines. Though technical challenges exist, its conventions when artfully navigated facilitate suspension of disbelief and reader investment through balance of objective distance and intimate character understanding. Continued refinement of third person techniques will surely expand both its informative and imaginative possibilities for generations of writers to come. When handled with care and verisimilitude, third person perspective remains proven as one of writing’s most durable stylistic tools.
Andrew Stroud