Writing in Third Person for Essays
When students are assigned an academic essay, they are generally expected to write in third person rather than first or second person. There are some key reasons why third person is preferable for most essays: it maintains an objective tone, avoids the use of “I” and “you,” and positions the writer as an observer rather than a participant in the topic being discussed. While some genres like personal reflections or blog posts can utilize first person effectively, the standard format for essays involves removing the writer from the narrative and focusing on the content itself. For students new to academic writing, learning how to write in consistent third person can take some practice, but mastering this style helps demonstrate a mature, analytical approach to researching and discussing ideas.
What is Third Person?
In linguistics, third person refers to someone or something other than the speaker or writer and the person or people being addressed. It removes any direct reference to “I,” “me,” “we,” or “you.” Instead, third person uses pronouns like “he,” “she,” “it,” “they” as well as names to discuss people, places, things, or concepts. For example:
“John went to the store today.”
“The researchers examined several hypothesis before arriving at a conclusion.”
“Students today face more challenges than previous generations.”
By not including first or second person pronouns, third person writing adopts a more formal, impartial stance. It allows the writer to discuss a topic from an outside perspective rather than a personal viewpoint.
Maintaining Consistency
Once an essay or paper establishes a third person point of view, it is important to maintain consistency throughout. Switching between first, second, and third person within the same work disrupts the narrative flow and undermines an objective tone. Some common mistakes involve periodically slipping into first person when discussing opinions or research processes:
“Scholars have debated this issue for decades. I personally believe approach A is most convincing.”
“Several studies were analyzed for this paper. We drew conclusions based on common findings.”
To maintain consistency, rewrite these examples removing the first person pronouns:
“Scholars have debated this issue for decades. This issue is most convincingly explained by approach A.”
“Several studies were analyzed for this paper. Common findings across the studies allowed conclusions to be drawn.”
It can take practice to catch every stray usage of “I” or “we” that creeps into third person writing. Review drafts carefully, have others proofread, and replace first person with the topic or concepts being discussed to firmly anchor the essay in an objective style.
Using Transitions Effectively
Transition words are an important tool for linking ideas smoothly in academic writing. When used well, they not only guide the reader through different paragraphs and sections, but also reinforce the consistent third person point of view. Here are some examples of transitional phrases:
Furthermore, the data suggests…
Research shows…
Conversely, other scholars argue…
As a result, it became clear that…
Rather than saying “I think” or “in my opinion,” incorporating transitional words keeps the writer’s own perspective out of the discussion and maintains the third person frame of analyzing evidence, research, data, and other sources. Varied transitional phrases also enhance writing fluency and readability compared to repetitively starting sentences with “This/These studies show…”
Referring to Yourself in the Third Person
There may be rare instances where referring to yourself in the third person could be strategically useful, such as:
Emphasizing objectivity: “The author analyzed competing hypotheses without bias.”
Introducing a reference: “As Smith (2018) argued…”
Referring to your own previously published work: “In a prior study on this topic, the researcher found…”
Overuse of the third person when talking about actions taken during the research/writing process risks sounding overly pompous or detached. Mentioning yourself sparingly and strategically can work, but students generally do fine simply avoiding first person altogether in most cases. Stick with concise, clear writing focused on contents and credible sources.
Common Third Person Pronouns
Here are some of the most frequently used third person pronouns in academic writing:
He/she/they – Used to refer to singular or plural people of unspecified gender: “The student asked thoughtful questions. They brought up an insightful point.”
It – Refers to things, ideas, states, events, or singular concepts: “Economic stability depends on many factors. It fluctuates frequently.”
They – Can also refer to plural concepts or groups of people: “Researchers agree more data is needed. They continue investigating possible explanations.”
One – A more formal pronoun that refers to singular indefinite subjects: “One must consider all angles of an issue before making a judgement.”
You- Form – Used impersonally to refer generally to readers or a group: “The form underscores key difficulties to address.”
Maintaining third person through consistent use of pronouns, transitions, and an unbiased tone is an essential academic writing skill. With practice, students can demonstrate analytical thinking through objective discussions rather than personal anecdotes or opinions. Mastering this style sets a strong foundation for research-based communication.
Andrew Stroud