Should you write in 3rd or 1st person in academic writing? This will depend on what you are asked to write. For some reflective or personal writing you may be asked to use 1st person, and for other essays and reports you may need to stick to 3rd person.
So, what's the difference between 3rd and 1st person?
1st person is where you write 'I…' or 'We…' For example: 'I think effective communication…', or 'I make sure I communicate effectively…'
3rd person is less personal, and uses sentences where the idea is talked about without a personal perspective, like this: 'Effective communication with colleagues can…'
2nd person is 'You…' and is unusual in academic writing, so you can assume you won’t be writing in this, unless someone asks you to.
- If you are not sure whether you should be writing in 1st or 3rd person, check with your tutors.
- Read aloud (or ask Word to read aloud to you) to see if you spot anything in your writing where you have shifted from 1st or 3rd person, or 3rd to 1st person.
- Have a look at this guide on our Skills Hub for more detail on writing in the 3rd person: how do I write in the third person?