Research writers frequently wonder whether the first person can be used in academic and scientific writing. In truth, for generations, we’ve been discouraged from using “I” and “we” in academic writing simply due to old habits. That’s right—there’s no reason why you can’t use these words! In fact, the academic community used first-person pronouns until the 1920s, when the third person and passive-voice constructions (that is, “boring” writing) were adopted–prominently expressed, for example, in Strunk and White’s classic writing manual “Elements of Style” first published in 1918, that advised writers to place themselves “in the background” and not draw attention to themselves. Show
In recent decades, however, changing attitudes about the first person in academic writing have led to a paradigm shift, and we have, however, we’ve shifted back to producing active and engaging prose that incorporates the first person. Can You Use “I” in a Research Paper?However, the use of “I” and “we” still has some generally accepted rules we ought to follow. For example, the first person is more likely used in the abstract, introduction, discussion, and conclusion sections of an academic paper while the third person and passive constructions are found in the methods and results sections. In this article, we discuss when you should avoid personal pronouns and when they may enhance your writing. It’s Okay to Use First-Person Pronouns to:
The First Person Should Be Avoided When:
Usage ExamplesThe following examples compare the impact of using and avoiding first-person pronouns. Example 1 (First Person Preferred):
[Note: When a long phrase acts as the subject of a passive-voice construction, the sentence becomes difficult to digest. Additionally, since the author(s) conducted the research, it would be clearer to specifically mention them when discussing the focus of a project.] →
[Note: When describing the focus of a research project, authors often replace “we” with phrases such as “this study” or “this paper.” “We,” however, is acceptable in this context, including for scientific disciplines. In fact, papers published the vast majority of scientific journals these days use “we” to establish an active voice. Be careful when using “this study” or “this paper” with verbs that clearly couldn’t have performed the action. For example, “we attempt to demonstrate” works, but “the study attempts to demonstrate” does not; the study is not a person.] Example 2 (First Person Discouraged):
[Note: Introducing personal pronouns when discussing results raises questions regarding the reproducibility of a study. However, mathematics fields generally tolerate phrases such as “in X example, we see…”] →
[Note: We removed the passive voice and maintained objectivity and assertiveness by specifically identifying the cause-and-effect elements as the actor and recipient of the main action verb. Additionally, in this version, the results appear independent of any person’s perspective.] Example 3 (First Person Preferred):
[Note: “Authors” in the last sentence above is unclear. Does the term refer to Jones et al., Miller, or the authors of the current paper?] →
[Note: By using “we,” this sentence clarifies the actor and emphasizes the significance of the recent findings reported in this paper. Indeed, “I” and “we” are acceptable in most scientific fields to compare an author’s works with other researchers’ publications. The APA encourages using personal pronouns for this context. The social sciences broaden this scope to allow discussion of personal perspectives, irrespective of comparisons to other literature.] Other Tips about Using Personal Pronouns
Wordvice ResourcesFor more general advice on how to use active and passive voice in research papers, on how to paraphrase, or for a list of Useful Phrases for Academic Writing, head over to the Wordvice academic resources pages. About Wordvice KHWordvice provides high-quality English proofreading and editing services.We have helped thousands of researchers, students, writers, and businesses maximize the impact of their writing.Which type of narrative writing should we avoid using personal pronouns?Passive voice version
Using second-person pronouns such as 'you' or 'your' to address the reader is inappropriate and can make an essay read like an informal speech rather than a piece of academic writing.
What are pronouns used to avoid in writing?Pronouns are words that are used in place of nouns to avoid repetition. Pronouns must agree with their antecedent—the subject to which the pronoun refers—in number and gender.
Why should we avoid personal pronouns?Rule: Avoid first and second-person pronouns
The reason you should avoid first-person pronouns in academic writing is that they can weaken the ethos (credibility and trustworthiness) of yourself as the author. Claims that you make as an author should be supported by evidence (such as research and logic).
Can you use first person pronouns in formal writing?In academic or college writing, most formal essays and research reports use third person pronouns and do not use “I” or “you.” An essay is the writer's analysis about a topic. The essay is based on the writer's ideas and experience, not on other sources of information the writer has researched.
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