First-person pronouns are an essential part of language. In academic writing, however, their use is often debated, as it can impact the tone and formality of the text. In this article, we’ll explore the role of first-person pronouns in everyday situations and in academia by showing how they can be effectively employed.
First-person pronouns in a nutshell
First person pronouns are words that refer to the writer or speaker and can be divided into singular and plural.
Definition: First-person pronouns
First-person pronouns indicate the point of view (POV) of the writer or speaker. These pronouns are used to convey personal involvement or perspective in the subject matter being discussed. Deciding on the right point of view is especially important for verb conjugation as pronouns act as substitutes for nouns and noun phrases.
Personal pronouns
Personal pronouns refer to individuals or groups, including the speaker (first person), the person being addressed (second person), or others (third person). They are used to avoiding repetition of nouns and can function in different grammatical roles. Below is a breakdown of the types of personal pronouns.
- Subject pronouns
- Object pronouns
- Possessive pronouns
- Reflexive pronouns
First-person subject pronouns
These pronouns are used as the subject of a sentence to represent the speaker or speakers.
- I (singular)
- We (plural)
Examples
- I am planning to visit the museum tomorrow.
- We have been working on this project for months.
- I think this solution will solve the problem.
First-person object pronouns
These first-person pronouns act as the object of a verb or preposition and also refer to the speaker or speakers.
- Me (singular)
- Us (plural)
Examples
- Why are you attacking me after I supported you?
- We ran for the bus, but the driver didn’t see us.
- Me personally, I wouldn’t let that slide.
First-person possessive pronouns
Possessive pronouns indicate ownership or possession by the speaker or speakers.
- Mine (singular)
- Ours (plural)
Examples
- The notebook on the table is mine.
- This idea is ours, so we should present it together.
- The decision was based on my own experiences.
First-person reflexive pronouns
These first-person pronouns are used when the subject and the object of the sentence refer to the same entity.
- Myself (singular)
- Ourselves (plural)
Examples
- I hurt myself while trying to fix the bike.
- We should give ourselves more credit.
- I made this choice all by myself.
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Academic writing
In academic writing, the usage of first-person pronouns can influence the tone and perceived objectivity of the work, which is why they tend to be avoided. While some academic fields allow a more impersonal style, others even prefer the inclusion of such pronouns to create a more direct narrative. As such, STEM fields and natural sciences typically avoid first-person pronouns, while humanities and social sciences frequently allow them.
Always check with your supervisor or teacher before using first-person pronouns in your academic paper. Additionally, remember that they are mostly used for more personal assignments like a college essay, a personal statement, an acknowledgement, etc.
How to avoid using first-person pronouns
There are a few methods to avoid using first-person pronouns in academic writing. The table below explains some common methods.
| Method | First-person pronoun sentence | Edited sentence |
| Third person | We conducted an anonymous survey to gather feedback. | The research team conducted an anonymous survey to gather feedback. |
| Passive voice | I analyzed the participants' response time across various conditions. | The participants' response time was analyzed across various conditions. |
| In the following, I will discuss the implications of these results. | In the following, the implications of these results will be discussed. |
Each method offers its own set of benefits and disadvantages. For instance, passive voice can occasionally lead to dangling modifiers, which can make your writing unclear. When first-person pronouns are permitted, it’s generally best to keep them for clarity.
How to use first-person pronouns correctly
A rule of thumb is to avoid overusing first-person pronouns even when it is allowed to include them. Below, you can find out for what purposes these pronouns can be used for.
| Use it to... | Examples |
| Organize your texts |
|
| Report procedures, methods, and steps you've taken |
|
| Give contrasting views with another source |
|
Generalizations
The editorial “we” uses plural first-person pronouns to generalize people. Avoid using it even when you are allowed to use first-person pronouns, as it may make your text overly vague and informal.
However, if you must make generalizations, express your sentence differently, like using the third-person or impersonal pronoun “one.” Furthermore, please do not use the second-person pronoun “you” for generalizations.
Examples
❌When you are given more understanding, you tend to thrive.
✅When individuals are shown more understanding, they tend to thrive.
❌If we approach this issue with more empathy, we can reduce conflict.
✅Approaching the issue with empathy can reduce conflict.
FAQs
First-person pronouns are used when the speaker or writer is referring to themselves or a group they are part of. These pronouns include:
- Singular: I, me, my, mine
- Plural: we, us, our, ours
Second-person pronouns address the reader or listener directly. These pronouns are used to engage the audience in the conversation.
- you, your, yours
Third-person pronouns refer to other people or things. These pronouns are used when talking about someone or something else.
- Singular: he, him, his, she, her, hers, it, its
- Plural: they, them, their, theirs
First-person pronouns are words used to refer to the speaker or a group that includes the speaker. These pronouns include:
- Singular: I, me, my, mine
- Plural: we, us, our, ours
Examples
- I am going to the store.
- We will discuss this further in the next meeting.
In first-person point of view, the writer or speaker refers to themselves directly. The pronouns used in first-person POV are:
- Singular: I, me, my, mine
- Plural: we, us, our, ours
A second-person pronoun is used when directly addressing the reader or listener. The main second-person pronoun is you and it is the same for both singular and plural uses:
- you, your, yours
