Writing in Third Person: Examples and Best Practices
Writing in third person perspective is a common technique used in many genres of writing including news articles, academic papers, novels and more. In third person, the writer refers to individuals as “he”, “she”, “it” or “they” rather than using first person pronouns like “I” or “we”. While it may seem like a small detail, choosing an appropriate perspective for your writing is important. In this article, we will explore what third person is, provide examples of third person writing, and discuss best practices for utilizing this perspective effectively.
What is Third Person Perspective?
Third person perspective refers to writing or narrating a story from an objective viewpoint outside of the characters involved. Some key characteristics of third person include:
Using third person pronouns like “he”, “she”, “it” or “they” to refer to individuals rather than first or second person pronouns.
Referring to characters by name rather than as “I” or “me”. For example, saying “John walked to the store” rather than “I walked to the store”.
Allowing the writer/narrator to be external to the story and characters rather than a participant.
Providing a more disengaged and objective tone without directly involving the writer in the content.
Compared to first person which uses “I” and puts the writer as a character, or second person which uses “you”, third person creates more distance between narrator and subject for a less subjective perspective. This distance makes third person well suited for many types of informational and explanatory writing.
Examples of Third Person Writing
To better understand third person, let’s examine some examples:
News Article: “Police responded to reports of a robbery at the local convenience store yesterday evening. Witnesses said that two men, dressed in black with masks, entered the store around 8pm. One man brandished a weapon while the other emptied the cash register. No one was injured in the incident and police are still searching for the suspects.”
Academic Paper: “Smith (2009) found that exercise can greatly decrease risk of heart disease. In the study, participants were divided into control and experimental groups. Those in the experimental group engaged in aerobic exercise three times per week while the control group did not change their normal routines. After one year, medical exams revealed the exercisers had significantly lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.”
Novel Excerpt: “As the sun rose over the hills, Emily opened her eyes. She rubbed the sleep from them and stretched out her tired limbs. The journey had been long but they were finally here – the destination she had dreamed about for so many nights. Emily walked to the window and gazed out at the unfamiliar landscape, wondering what adventures this new place would hold.”
As these examples demonstrate, third person maintains an objective perspective without directly involving the writer or narrator. Characters are referred to by name or pronoun without using first person pronouns. This creates a sense of removed storytelling while still allowing description of events, settings, characters and their actions.
Best Practices for Third Person Writing
When writing in third person, keeping a consistent perspective is important. Here are some guidelines to follow:
Remain outside of the story and do not insert the narrator or writer as a character. Refer only to those within the narrative events.
Be consistent in references – for example, always use “he”, “she” or their full name for a character rather than switching between pronouns and names.
Maintain an objective point of view without inserting subjective opinions, judgments or personal involvement of the writer within the content.
Use sensory details and actions to show readers events rather than directly telling them as in first person narratives. For example, describe how a character “felt nervous as they waited in line” rather than stating “I felt nervous…”.
Carefully select pronouns like “he”, “she” or names to ensure it is always clear who is being discussed when referring to characters, individuals or groups. Avoid ambiguity.
Stick to past tense for narrating events that have already occurred, and maintain consistency in verb tenses throughout.
Following these practices will help any writer skillfully utilize the third person perspective for maximum clarity, objectivity and removed storytelling. With practice, it becomes second nature to maintain distance between narrator and subject in a compelling yet impartial way.
Third person perspective is a staple technique in many non-fiction and fiction genres. It creates a disengaged viewpoint that allows descriptive writing about events and characters without direct author involvement. Understanding the definition and nuances of third person, along with proper application of pronouns, details and verb usage, are key to effective third person writing. With proper guidance and examples, any writer can master this objective point of view.