- PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
- EDIT Edit this Article
- EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Happiness Hub Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
- Browse Articles
- Learn Something New
- Quizzes Hot
- Happiness Hub
- This Or That Game
- Train Your Brain
- Explore More
- Support wikiHow
- About wikiHow
- Log in / Sign up
- Education and Communications
- Editing and Style
How to Write in Third Person
Last Updated: May 10, 2024 Approved
This article was co-authored by Alicia Cook . Alicia Cook is a Professional Writer based in Newark, New Jersey. With over 12 years of experience, Alicia specializes in poetry and uses her platform to advocate for families affected by addiction and to fight for breaking the stigma against addiction and mental illness. She holds a BA in English and Journalism from Georgian Court University and an MBA from Saint Peter’s University. Alicia is a bestselling poet with Andrews McMeel Publishing and her work has been featured in numerous media outlets including the NY Post, CNN, USA Today, the HuffPost, the LA Times, American Songwriter Magazine, and Bustle. She was named by Teen Vogue as one of the 10 social media poets to know and her poetry mixtape, “Stuff I’ve Been Feeling Lately” was a finalist in the 2016 Goodreads Choice Awards. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 19 testimonials and 86% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 1,153,362 times.
Writing in third person can be a simple task, with a little practice. For academic purposes, third person writing means that the writer must avoid using subjective pronouns like “I” or “you.” For creative writing purposes, there are differences between third person omniscient, limited, objective, and episodically limited points of view. Choose which one fits your writing project.
Writing Third Person Point of View
The third-person point of view discusses the person or people being talked about in academic or creative writing. In this perspective, you’d shift focus from subject to subject. Use pronouns like he/him, she/her, they/them, or it/itself.
Writing in Third Person Academically
- Third person helps the writing stay focused on facts and evidence instead of personal opinion.
- Third person pronouns include: he, she, it; his, her, its; him, her, it; himself, herself, itself; they; them; their; themselves.
- Names of other people are also considered appropriate for third person use.
- Example: “ Smith believes differently. According to his research, earlier claims on the subject are incorrect.”
- First person pronouns include: I, me, my, mine, myself, we, us, our, ours, ourselves. [3] X Research source
- The problem with first person is that, academically speaking, it sounds too personalized and too subjective. In other words, it may be difficult to convince the reader that the views and ideas being expressed are unbiased and untainted by personal feelings. Many times, when using first person in academic writing, people use phrases like "I think," "I believe," or "in my opinion."
- Incorrect example: “Even though Smith thinks this way, I think his argument is incorrect.”
- Correct example: “Even though Smith thinks this way, others in the field disagree.”
- Second person pronouns include: you, your, yours, yourself. [4] X Research source
- One main problem with second person is that it can sound accusatory. It runs to risk of placing too much responsibility on the shoulders of the reader specifically and presently reading the work.
- Incorrect example: “If you still disagree nowadays, then you must be ignorant of the facts.”
- Correct example: “Someone who still disagrees nowadays must be ignorant of the facts.”
- Indefinite third person nouns common to academic writing include: the writer, the reader, individuals, students, a student, an instructor, people, a person, a woman, a man, a child, researchers, scientists, writers, experts.
- Example: “In spite of the challenges involved, researchers still persist in their claims.”
- Indefinite third person pronouns include: one, anyone, everyone, someone, no one, another, any, each, either, everybody, neither, nobody, other, anybody, somebody, everything, someone.
- Incorrect example: "You might be tempted to agree without all the facts."
- Correct example: “ One might be tempted to agree without all the facts.”
- This is usually done in an attempt to avoid the gender-specific “he” and “she” pronouns. The mistake here would be to use the “they” pronoun with singular conjugation. [5] X Research source
- Incorrect example: “The witness wanted to offer anonymous testimony. They was afraid of getting hurt if their name was spread.”
- Correct example: “The witness wanted to offer anonymous testimony. They were afraid of getting hurt if their name was spread.”
Writing in Third Person Omniscient
- For instance, a story may include four major characters: William, Bob, Erika, and Samantha. At various points throughout the story, the thoughts and actions of each character should be portrayed. These thoughts can occur within the same chapter or block of narration.
- Writers of omniscient narratives should be conscious of “head-hopping” — that is, shifting character perspectives within a scene. While this does not technically break the rules of Third Person Omniscience, it is widely considered a hallmark of narrative laziness.
- In a sense, the writer of a third person omniscient story is somewhat like the “god” of that story. The writer can observe the external actions of any character at any time, but unlike a limited human observer, the writer can also peek into the inner workings of that character at will, as well.
- Know when to hold back. Even though a writer can reveal any information they choose to reveal, it may be more beneficial to reveal some things gradually. For instance, if one character is supposed to have a mysterious aura, it would be wise to limit access to that character's inner feelings for a while before revealing his or her true motives.
- Do not use first person and second person points of view in the narrative or descriptive portions of the text.
- Correct example: Bob said to Erika, “I think this is creepy. What do you think?”
- Incorrect example: I thought this was creepy, and Bob and Erika thought so, too. What do you think?
Writing in Third Person Limited
- The thoughts and feelings of other characters remain an unknown for the writer throughout the duration of the text. There should be no switching back and forth between characters for this specific type of narrative viewpoint.
- Unlike first person, where the narrator and protagonist are the same, third person limited puts a critical sliver of distance between protagonist and narrator. The writer has the choice to describe one main character’s nasty habit — something they wouldn’t readily reveal if the narration were left entirely to them.
- In other words, do not use first person pronouns like “I,” “me,” “my,” “we,” or “our” outside of dialog. The main character's thoughts and feelings are transparent to the writer, but that character should not double as a narrator.
- Correct example: “Tiffany felt awful after the argument with her boyfriend.”
- Correct example: “Tiffany thought, “I feel awful after that argument with my boyfriend.”
- Incorrect example: “I felt awful after the argument with my boyfriend.”
- Note that the writer can offer insight or guesses regarding the thoughts of other characters, but those guesses must be presented through the perspective of the main character.
- Correct example: “Tiffany felt awful, but judging by the expression on Carl's face, she imagined that he felt just as bad if not worse.”
- Incorrect example: “Tiffany felt awful. What she didn't know was that Carl felt even worse.”
- Correct example: “Tiffany watched from the window as Carl walked up to her house and rang the doorbell.”
- Incorrect example: “As soon as Tiffany left the room, Carl let out a sigh of relief.”
Writing in Episodically Limited Third Person
- Limit the amount of pov characters you include. You don't want to have too many characters that confuse your reader or serve no purpose. Each pov character should have a specific purpose for having a unique point of view. Ask yourself what each pov character contributes to the story.
- For instance, in a romance story following two main characters, Kevin and Felicia, the writer may opt to explain the inner workings of both characters at different moments in the story.
- One character may receive more attention than any other, but all main characters being followed should receive attention at some point in the story.
- Multiple perspectives should not appear within the same narrative space. When one character's perspective ends, another character's can begin. The two perspectives should not be intermixed within the same space.
- Incorrect example: “Kevin felt completely enamored of Felicia from the moment he met her. Felicia, on the other hand, had difficulty trusting Kevin.”
- In a novel-length work, a good time to switch perspective is at the start of a new chapter or at a chapter break.
- The writer should also identify the character whose perspective is being followed at the start of the section, preferably in the first sentence. Otherwise, the reader may waste too much energy guessing.
- Correct example: “Felicia hated to admit it, but the roses Kevin left on her doorstep were a pleasant surprise.”
- Incorrect example: “The roses left on the doorstep seemed like a nice touch.”
- For instance, if Kevin had a talk with Felicia's best friend about Felicia's feelings for him, Felicia herself would have no way of knowing what was said unless she witnessed the conversation or heard about it from either Kevin or her friend.
Writing in Third Person Objective
- There does not need to be a single main character to focus on. The writer can switch between characters, following different characters throughout the course of the narrative, as often as needed.
- Stay away from first person terms like “I” and second person terms like “you” in the narrative, though. Only use first and second person within dialog.
- Imagine that you are an invisible bystander observing the actions and dialog of the characters in your story. You are not omniscient, so you do not have access to any character's inner thoughts and feelings. You only have access to each character's actions.
- Correct example: “After class, Graham hurriedly left the room and rushed back to his dorm room.”
- Incorrect example: “After class, Graham raced from the room and rushed back to his dorm room. The lecture had made him so angry that he felt as though he might snap at the next person he met.”
- Correct example: “When no one else was watching her, Isabelle began to cry.”
- Incorrect example: “Isabelle was too prideful to cry in front of other people, but she felt completely broken-hearted and began crying once she was alone.”
- Let the reader draw his or her own conclusions. Present the actions of the character without analyzing them or explaining how those actions should be viewed.
- Correct example: “Yolanda looked over her shoulder three times before sitting down.”
- Incorrect example: “It might seem like a strange action, but Yolanda looked over her shoulder three times before sitting down. This compulsive habit is an indication of her paranoid state of mind.”
Examples of Third Person POV
Expert Q&A
You Might Also Like
- ↑ https://stlcc.edu/student-support/academic-success-and-tutoring/writing-center/writing-resources/point-of-view-in-academic-writing.aspx
- ↑ http://studysupportresources.port.ac.uk/Writing%20in%20the%20third%20peson.pdf
- ↑ http://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/third_person.htm
- ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/use-the-singular-they/
- ↑ Alicia Cook. Professional Writer. Expert Interview. 11 December 2020.
- ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/point-of-view-first-second-third-person-difference
- ↑ https://ojs.library.dal.ca/YAHS/article/viewFile/7236/6278
About This Article
To write in third person, refer to people or characters by name or use third person pronouns like he, she, it; his, her, its; him, her, it; himself, herself, itself; they; them; their; and themselves. Avoid first and second person pronouns completely. For academic writing, focus on a general viewpoint rather than a specific person's to keep things in third person. In other types of writing, you can write in third person by shifting your focus from character to character or by focusing on a single character. To learn more from our Literary Studies Ph.D., like the differences between third person omniscient and third person limited writing, keep reading the article! Did this summary help you? Yes No
- Send fan mail to authors
Reader Success Stories
Jul 31, 2016
Did this article help you?
Jean Scicluna
Jan 31, 2021
Nov 4, 2016
Karen Evans
Aug 5, 2016
Oct 20, 2016
Featured Articles
Trending Articles
Watch Articles
- Terms of Use
- Privacy Policy
- Do Not Sell or Share My Info
- Not Selling Info
wikiHow Tech Help Pro:
Develop the tech skills you need for work and life
Writing in Third Person – Examples
| Candace Osmond
Candace Osmond
Candace Osmond studied Advanced Writing & Editing Essentials at MHC. She’s been an International and USA TODAY Bestselling Author for over a decade. And she’s worked as an Editor for several mid-sized publications. Candace has a keen eye for content editing and a high degree of expertise in Fiction.
The third-person narrative is often employed in narrative writing because it zooms in and out of character perspectives to describe actions, feelings, emotions, and thoughts. If you’re unsure how to use the 3rd person perspective in writing, here are some tips and examples.
What is Third Person Narrative?
The third person is one of three perspectives employed in speaking and writing. It’s used to describe the point of view of a third party and uses a variety of pronouns derived from he, her, and it. Books written in third person are often more popular, as well, for their ease of reading.
I often write in first-person narrative, but when I’m writing a complex story from the point of view of multiple characters, I use third person to make things more rounded and streamlined for the reader.
Using Third Person
Third person is a perspective used based on whoever the story or writing in question is about. The subject pronoun is outside of the narrator themself. Third-person texts do not include the perspective of the narrator/writer, nor does it address the reader directly. It also uses certain personal pronouns and possessive pronouns.
Example of a third person sentence:
Jeremy knew it was destined to be. He placed the dog in the backseat of his car and drove away. All he wanted at that time was to ensure the animal got the loving home he deserved.
Third Person Possessive Adjectives in Third Person
So, instead of using me, mine, ours, etc., you would use hers, his, theirs when writing in third person.
Does “You” Belong in 3rd Person Writing?
Third-person writing requires using third-person pronouns, including he, she, it, him, her, them, themselves, himself, herself, or a name. Using “you” means you’re switching to the second person.
How to Introduce Yourself in the Third Person
People typically use the first-person point of view when talking about themselves and their experiences. It would be odd to talk about oneself in the third person all the time, but you might use it occasionally for the sake of humorous effect or attract the attention of another person.
The third person introduces a third party to the person you’re speaking with. If you are a narrator, it’s best to introduce yourself in the first person and start narrating the events in the third person.
How to Start a Story in Third Person
In a story, narrators use the third person if they are not part of the story themselves. Third-person narratives show us a person’s actions, feelings, and thoughts.
Example of how to write in third person:
Nadia dreamt about being a gymnast her entire life. Ever since she can remember, she’s worked hard, sacrificed a lot, and hoped someone would notice all her efforts. She was never the smartest kid in school, but she believed in herself enough to never give up on that spot on the podium.
What Are the 3 Types of 3rd Person?
In writing, there are three ways to approach third-person writing.
Third-Person Omniscient
The story’s narrator is all-knowing and can see into the past, present, and future. This narrator can assume other people’s perspectives, jumping around in time and providing the reader with their thoughts and observations.
Third-Person Limited Omniscient
In this point of view, the author focuses on one persona and never switches to another. In a novel, the narrator may use this technique throughout the work or employ it in alternating chapters or sections.
The author can regulate the reader’s knowledge and experience by writing from a limited point of view. Used effectively, it can create a palpable sense of anticipation and excitement.
Third-Person Objective
The narrator of a story told from the third-person objective perspective is unbiased and does not share the viewpoint of the character’s emotional reactions. The story is told in an objective, third-person style.
How to Write In Third Person About Yourself
The easiest way to approach this problem is to create a character. You can also use your actual name to write from the third-person perspective.
Why Write in Third-Person?
Fiction writing uses third-person POV quite often. Here are some advantages of employing it as part of your narrative style.
Strong Character Growth Is Emphasized
More characters can be highlighted in a story told from the third-person perspective than in the first- or second-person. These varying perspectives give the reader a complete understanding of the story since they shed light on the plot in ways the other characters cannot.
It Employs Flexible Narrative Possibilities
The advantages of writing in the third person include greater freedom to move around, giving the reader a comprehensive view, and shifting perspectives among multiple characters. You can switch between being completely all-knowing and having only partial or first-person knowledge.
This latter technique allows the reader to experience the world through the eyes of a character, allowing for a more profound understanding of that person and their surroundings.
Makes the Author More Reliable
Third-person narration places the reader in a vantage point far above the action. With the author/narrator not part of the story, they can rise above it, having nothing to lose or gain from certain narrative developments. This makes the story more reliable and lends the story more authority and credibility.
First, Second, and Third Person Pronouns
If you’re confused about the types of pronouns used in each of the three main perspectives, here is a comprehensive list:
- First person pronouns: I, me, mine, myself, we, us, ourselves, ours.
- Second person pronouns: you, your, yours.
- Third person singular pronouns: he, him, his, she, her, it,
- Third person plural pronouns: its, itself, they, them, their, theirs, themselves.
Bottom Line on Third Person
Writing in 3rd person grants the author more credibility and offers a more objective perspective of the characters in the text. Often employed in fictional and academic writing, the third-person point of view makes the text seem more authentic and factually correct.
Grammarist is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. When you buy via the links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you.
2024 © Grammarist, a Found First Marketing company. All rights reserved.
- [email protected]
- (650) 338-8226
Cupertino, CA
- Our Philosophy
- Our Results
- News, Media, and Press
- Common Application
- College Application Essay Editing
- Extracurricular Planning
- Academic Guidance
- Summer Programs
- Interview Preparation
Middle School
- Pre-High School Consultation
- Boarding School Admissions
College Admissions
- Academic and Extracurricular Profile Evaluation
- Senior Editor College Application Program
- Summer Program Applications
- Private Consulting Program
- Transfer Admissions
- UC Transfer Admissions
- Ivy League Transfer Admissions
Graduate Admissions
- Graduate School Admissions
- MBA Admissions
Private Tutoring
- SAT/ACT Tutoring
- AP Exam Tutoring
- Olympiad Training
Research Programs
- Science Research Program
- Humanities Competitions
- Passion Project Program
- Ad Hoc Consulting
- Athletic Recruitment
- National Universities Rankings
- Liberal Arts Colleges Rankings
- Public Schools Rankings
Acceptance Rates
- University Acceptance Rates
- Transfer Acceptance Rates
- Supplemental Essays
- College Admissions Data
- Chances Calculator
- GPA Calculator
National Universities
- College Acceptance Rates
- College Overall Acceptance Rates
- College Regular Acceptance Rates
- College Early Acceptance Rates
- Ivy League Acceptance Rates
- Ivy League Overall Acceptance Rates
- Ivy League Regular Acceptance Rates
- Ivy League Early Acceptance Rates
Public Schools
- Public Schools Acceptance Rates
- Public Schools Overall Acceptance Rates
- Public Schools Regular Acceptance Rates
- Public Schools Early Acceptance Rates
Liberal Arts
- Liberal Arts Colleges Acceptance Rates
- Liberal Arts Colleges Overall Acceptance Rates
- Liberal Arts Colleges Regular Acceptance Rates
- Liberal Arts Colleges Early Acceptance Rates
Third-Person Writing: A Guide for Effective Academic Writing
By Eric Eng
In this post, we will explore the concept of third-person writing and its importance for academic writing. We will discuss the benefits of using third-person language, provide examples of how it can be used in different types of academic writing, and offer practical tips for incorporating it into your writing. By the end of this post, you will have a solid understanding of third-person writing and how to use it effectively in your academic work.
Academic writing is a fundamental part of any high school student’s education, and mastering the art of writing in a clear and concise manner is essential to academic success. One key aspect of effective academic writing is the use of third-person language, which can help writers create a more objective and authoritative tone.
What is third-person writing?
What is third-person writing? Third-person writing is a style of writing that involves using pronouns such as “he,” “she,” “it,” “they,” or “one” to refer to individuals or objects instead of using first- or second-person pronouns like “I,” “me,” “we,” “us,” “you,” or “your.” Third-person language is commonly used in academic writing to create a more objective and authoritative tone.
For instance, instead of saying “I believe,” third-person writing would say, “It can be argued.” This writing style can be particularly effective when presenting research or making a persuasive argument, as it allows the writer to distance themselves from their ideas and present them as more balanced and objective.
Writing in the third person differs from first- and second-person writing in several key ways. First-person writing involves using pronouns like “I,” “me,” “we,” or “us” to refer to oneself or a group of individuals. This writing style is often used in personal narratives, memoirs, or opinion pieces, where the writer’s personal experiences or opinions are central to the piece.
Conversely, second-person writing involves using pronouns like “you” or “your” to address the reader directly.
This writing style is often used in instructional or self-help texts, where the writer gives advice or instructions to the reader. In contrast, writing in the third person avoids direct references to the writer or reader and instead focuses on the topic or subject. This writing style can be particularly effective in academic writing , where objectivity and a neutral tone are often valued.
The benefits of using third-person writing in academic writing
Using the third-person point of view in academic writing offers several benefits, including creating a more objective and authoritative tone. By using third-person pronouns instead of first-person pronouns, writers can present information more neutral and unbiased. This can be particularly important in academic writing, where presenting a balanced and objective perspective is often valued.
Writing in the third person can also help writers distance themselves from their arguments and present a more balanced perspective. By using third-person pronouns, writers can avoid appearing overly confident or biased. Instead, they can present their arguments in a more measured and thoughtful way, allowing readers to make their judgments about the validity of the arguments presented.
Moreover, it can be especially useful in academic writing that involves research. When presenting research findings or making a persuasive argument, writers may be tempted to rely heavily on first-person language to convince readers of the validity of their claims. However, this can undermine the persuasiveness of the argument.
Using third-person writing instead can help writers present their research findings and arguments in a more objective and authoritative way, ultimately making their work more convincing to readers.
In summary, using a third-person point of view in academic writing can help writers create a more objective and authoritative tone, distance themselves from their arguments, and present a more balanced perspective. By using third-person pronouns and language effectively, writers can make their writing more persuasive and ultimately more successful in communicating their ideas to their readers.
What are the words to avoid in third-person writing?
What are the words to avoid in third-person writing? When writing in the third person, it’s important to avoid using first- and second-person language, as these types can make the writing appear less objective and authoritative. Here are some examples of words and phrases to avoid when writing in the third person:
- First-person pronouns: This includes words like “I,” “me,” “my,” “we,” and “us.” Avoid using these pronouns in the third-person point of view.
- Second-person pronouns include words like “you” and “your.” Avoid using these pronouns, as they can make the writing feel more direct and less objective.
- Imperative verbs: Imperative verbs are those that give commands or instructions, such as “do,” “make,” or “take.” These verbs should generally be avoided as they can make the writing feel less objective and more directive.
- Personal opinions: It’s important to avoid including personal opinions or biases. Instead, focus on presenting the facts and allowing readers to draw their conclusions.
By avoiding these words and phrases, writers can create more effective and authoritative third-person writing better suited for academic and professional contexts.
Examples of third-person writing in academic writing
The third-person point of view is commonly used in various academic writing contexts, including research papers, literature reviews, and essays . Here are some examples of how third-person writing can be used effectively in these contexts:
- Research papers: In research papers, it can be used to present research findings and conclusions in a more objective and authoritative manner. For example, instead of saying, “I found that,” a third-person point of view would say, “It was found that.” This helps to create a more neutral tone and emphasizes the importance of the research itself rather than the researcher’s personal experience.
- Literature reviews: In literature reviews , it can be used to summarize and analyze existing research in an objective and authoritative way. For example, instead of saying, “I think that this study is important,” third-person writing would say, “This study has been found to be important by previous researchers.” This helps to emphasize the research’s importance and present it more objectively and neutrally.
- Essays: In essays, it can be used to present arguments and evidence in a more balanced and persuasive manner. For example, instead of saying, “I believe that,” a third-person point of view would say, “It can be argued that.” This helps to present the argument in a more objective and authoritative way, which can be particularly important in persuasive essays.
The potential benefits of using third-person writing in each of these contexts include the following:
- Creating a more objective and authoritative tone.
- Emphasizing the importance of the research or argument rather than the writer’s personal experience or opinion.
- Presenting information in a more balanced and neutral way.
By writing in the third person effectively, writers can make their academic writing more effective and persuasive, ultimately helping to communicate their ideas more effectively to their readers.
Tips for using third-person writing in academic writing
To effectively incorporate third-person writing into academic writing, consider the following tips:
- Use active voice: Using active voice can help to make the third-person point of view more engaging and direct. For example, instead of saying, “It was found that,” say, “Researchers found that.” This can make the writing feel engaging rather than passive and dull.
- Vary sentence structure: To avoid overusing third-person pronouns, try to vary sentence structure. For example, instead of repeatedly using “he” or “she,” try using more descriptive phrases or words, such as “the researcher” or “the author.”
- Avoid personal opinions: In third-person writing, it’s important to avoid personal opinions or biases. Instead, focus on presenting the facts and allowing readers to draw their own conclusions.
- Use reliable sources: In academic writing, it’s important to use reliable and trustworthy sources to support your arguments. Make sure to cite your sources properly and avoid using biased or unreliable sources.
- Proofread carefully: Finally, proofread your writing carefully to ensure you’ve used third-person language consistently and effectively. Look for instances of first- or second-person language and replace them with third-person language, as necessary.
Common mistakes to avoid when using third-person writing in academic writing include overusing third-person pronouns, failing to vary sentence structure, and using vague or ambiguous language. Additionally, it’s important to avoid using personal opinions or biases, as this can undermine the objectivity and authority of your writing.
By following these tips and avoiding common mistakes, you can effectively incorporate third-person pov into your academic writing and create more persuasive and authoritative pieces.
In conclusion, using third-person writing can be a powerful tool for high school students looking to improve their academic writing. Students can create a more objective, authoritative, and balanced tone in their writing by avoiding first- and second-person language and using third-person pronouns and another language.
The benefits of using third-person writing include presenting research findings and arguments in a more neutral and objective manner, emphasizing the importance of the research or argument rather than the writer’s personal experience or opinion, and presenting information in a more balanced and neutral way.
By incorporating these tips and avoiding common mistakes, students can make their academic writing more effective and persuasive.
Having all the necessary information is important before choosing any course of action. AdmissionSight is always here to assist you with any questions or concerns. We have more than ten years of expertise assisting students in successfully navigating the challenging admissions process.
Consult with AdmissionSight and find out what we can do to help you get into the school of your choice by ensuring that you are sufficiently aware and well-prepared for the application process.
Want to assess your chances of admission? Take our FREE chances calculator today!
Why College Admissions Isn’t Perfect
US News Rankings
The Personal Statement: The Holy Grail of College Admissions
The Modern Day 4.0 and 1600 SAT Score Student Is No Longer Impressive
The Competitive Nature of College Admissions for Asian Americans
The College Application
Our Comprehensive Approach
Ivy League Schools
How Early Should You Prepare for College?
Featured in US News & World Report Best Colleges Publication
Congratulations to AdmissionSight Students and their Acceptances!
College Rejection
College Rankings
College Consultants Could Make A Difference
College Admissions Scandal and Higher Education
What is the University of Texas at Austin Known For?
Here Are the 7 Best Colleges for Sports
What is the Princeton Early Action Acceptance Rate for 2024?
Graduating with Honors in High School: A Complete Guide
Does Harvard Have Sororities? All You Need to Know
Discover the High School Classes That Ivies Require
What Exactly Is Dartmouth’s Mascot?
Do Colleges Look at Attendance? Insights and Tips
What Is the Columbia ED Acceptance Rate for 2024?
Everything You Need to Know About UCLA’s Campus Tour
Discover the Best Calculators for Calculus
Can You Go to College with a GED? Insights and Tips
Top 15 Universities with the Largest Endowments
Top 10 US Schools That Look Like Hogwarts
Everything You Need to Know About Interact Club
Fun Facts About UCLA: A Deep Dive into One of America’s Top Universities
MIT Extracurriculars for High School Students
Leave a comment cancel reply.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
Recent Articles
What is the University of...
Here Are the 7 Best...
What is the Princeton Early...
Graduating with Honors in High...
Does Harvard Have Sororities? All...
Discover the High School Classes...
Do Colleges Look at Attendance?...
What Is the Columbia ED...
Everything You Need to Know...
Discover the Best Calculators for...
Can You Go to College...
Sign up now to receive insights on how to navigate the college admissions process..
Admissions Counseling
- Academic & Extracurricular Profile Evaluation
Copyright © AdmissionSight 2024
Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions
First, Second, and Third Person: Definition and Examples
Home » The Writer’s Dictionary » First, Second, and Third Person: Definition and Examples
Point of view definition: First, second, and third person are categories of grammar to classify pronouns and verb forms.
- First person definition: first person indicates the speaker.
- Second person definition: second person indicates the addressee .
- Third person definition: third person indicates a third party individual other than the speaker.
What is the difference Between First Person, Second Person, and Third Person?
First, second, and third person refer to pronouns and their verb forms.
What is First Person?
First Person Example:
- I prefer coffee to hot cocoa.
In this example, “I” am the speaker. This is first person.
What is Second Person?
Second person point of view: Second person refers to the addressee. It uses the subject pronoun “you.”
Second Person Example:
- You prefer coffee to hot cocoa.
In this example “you” is the addressee. The speaker is addressing “you.” This is second person.
What is Third Person?
Third Person Example:
- He prefers coffee to hot cocoa.
In this example “he” is the third party. The speaker is referring to him as the addressee. He prefers coffee to hot cocoa.
When using the different points of view, verbs need to be conjugated appropriately to fit the pronoun use.
Note: Pronouns are only used in English when an antecedent has been clearly identified.
What Are First Person Pronouns?
First person pronouns always refer to the speaker himself. These pronouns are only used when the speaker is making a statement about himself or herself.
First Person Pronoun List:
Here is a list with examples of the first person words we use in writing and speech.
- I prefer coffee to hot cocoa. (First person singular)
- We prefer burgers to pasta. (First person plural)
- Jacob embarrassed me.
- Jacob embarrassed us.
- The hat is mine.
- The hat is ours.
- That is my hat.
- That is our hat.
What Are Second Person Pronouns?
When you are writing, a good way to think about the second person’s point of view is that it addresses the reader (as I just did in that sentence).
Second person pronouns are only used when the speaker is making a statement to the addressee, i.e., to someone.
Second Person Pronoun List:
Here is a list with examples of the second person words we use in writing and speech.
- Jacob embarrassed you.
- The hat is yours.
- That is your hat.
Note: In each of these examples, “you” can be an individual (singular) or multiple people (plural).
What Are Third Person Pronouns?
Third person pronouns always refer to a third party. These pronouns are used when the speaker is making a statement about a third party.
Third Person Pronoun List:
Here is a list with examples of the third person words we use in writing and speech.
- He prefers coffee to hot cocoa. (Third person singular)
- They prefer tea to coffee. (Third person plural)
- Jacob embarrassed her.
- The hat is theirs.
- That is their hat.
First, Second, and Third Person in Writing
Writing in first person: Literature in the first person point of view is written from the speaker’s perspective. This point of view uses first person pronouns to identify the speaker/narrator. First person point of view is generally limited in that the audience only experiences what the speaker/narrator himself experiences.
Writing in third person: Literature in third person point of view is written from an “outside” perspective. This point of view uses third person pronouns to identify characters. In third person writing, the narrator is not a character in the text. Because of this, he can usually “see” what happens to all of the characters.
Writing in second person: In non-fiction writing, a speaker will often switch between pronouns. Writers do this only for effect. For example, if a speaker wants to be clear and “get through” to the audience, he might say “you” (second person) throughout the text even if the text is mostly in third person. Again, this is strictly for rhetorical effect. Experienced writers use this as a literary tool.
Common Questions and First, Second, and Third Person
Here, I want to go quickly through a few questions I get about first, second, and third person pronouns.
Questions About the First Person
Is our first person? Yes, our is one of the first person pronouns.
- Are you coming to our wedding?
Is you first person? No, you is a second person pronoun.
- You are a great friend.
Is we first person? Yes, we is a first person pronoun.
- We are great friends.
- We polled this group of political observers and activists each week prior to the Iowa caucuses to produce the USA TODAY GOP Power Rankings and went back to them this week to ask who is the best choice for Trump’s running mate. – USA Today
Is my first person? Yes, my is a first person pronoun.
- My glasses are broken.
Is they first person? No, they is a third person pronoun.
- They can’t find parking.
- For frugal travelers, there are some smart alternatives if they are willing to do a bit of homework. – The New York Times
Is us first person? Yes, us is one of the first person pronouns.
- The president congratulated us.
Questions About the Second Person
- You are causing a scene.
Is they second person? No, they is a one of the third person pronouns.
- They are our neighbors.
Is we second person? No, we is one of the first person pronouns.
- We are going to get groceries.
Questions About the Third Person
Is their third person? Yes, their is a third person pronoun.
- Their hat is over there.
Is we third person? No, we is a first person pronoun.
- We are going to the beach.
Is our third person? No, our is a first person pronoun.
- This is our cake.
Is you third person? No, you is a second person pronoun.
- You are a nice person.
Is they third person? Yes, they is a third person pronoun.
- They are nice people.
Is he third person? Yes, he is one of the third person pronouns.
- He is a great man.
- Last week, he restated that he believes he deserves a maximum contract. – The Washington Post
Trick to Remember the Difference
Here are a few helpful memory tricks that always help me.
In the first person writing, I am talking about myself.
- I enjoy singing.
In the second person writing, I am talking to someone.
- You enjoy singing.
In the third person writing, I am talking about someone.
- He enjoys singing.
Summary: What is the First, Second, and Third Person Perspective?
Define first person: The definition of first person is the grammatical category of forms that designate a speaker referring to himself or herself. First person pronouns are I, we, me, us, etc.
Define second person: The definition of second person is the grammatical category of forms that designates the person being addressed. Second person pronouns are you, your, and yours.
Define third person: The definition of third person is the grammatical category of forms designating someone other than the speaker. The pronouns used are he, she, it, they, them, etc.
If this article helped you understand the differences between the three main English points of view, you might find our other article on English grammar terms helpful.
You can see our full list of English grammar terms on our grammar dictionary .
Point of View: It's Personal
What to Know The point of view of a story determines who is telling it and the narrator's relationship to the characters in the story. In first person point of view the narrator is a character in the story telling it from their perspective. In third person point of view the narrator is not part of the story and the characters never acknowledge the narrator's presence. Less common than first and third is second person point of view. In second person point of view the reader is part of the story. The narrator describes the reader's actions, thoughts, and background using "you."
It's all about how you look at it.
When you tell a story, an important thing to choose is the point of view that the story should take. Point of view determines who tells the story, as well as the relationship that the narrator has to the characters in the story. A story can have a much different feel depending on who is doing the telling.
The main points of view are first person and third person, with second person appearing less frequently but still common enough that it gets studied in writing classes. These are also the terms used to distinguish the personal pronouns. The pronouns I and we are first-person pronouns; they refer to the self. The pronoun you , used for both singular and plural antecedents, is the second-person pronoun, the person who is being addressed. The third person pronouns— he , she , it , they —refer to someone or something being referred to apart from the speaker or the person being addressed. Narratives are often identified as first, second, or third person based on the kinds of pronouns they utilize.
First Person Point of View
In first-person narration, the narrator is a person in the story, telling the story from their own point of view. The narration usually utilizes the pronoun I (or we , if the narrator is speaking as part of a group). The character who tells the story might be in the middle of the action or more of a character who observes the action from the outer limits, but in either case you are getting that character’s recounting of what happens.
It also means that impressions and descriptions are colored by that character’s opinions, mood, past experiences, or even their warped perceptions of what they see and hear.
There was no possibility of taking a walk that day. We had been wandering, indeed, in the leafless shrubbery an hour in the morning; but since dinner (Mrs. Reed, when there was no company, dined early) the cold winter wind had brought with it clouds so sombre, and a rain so penetrating, that further outdoor exercise was now out of the question. I was glad of it: I never liked long walks, especially on chilly afternoons: dreadful to me was the coming home in the raw twilight, with nipped fingers and toes, and a heart saddened by the chidings of Bessie, the nurse, and humbled by the consciousness of my physical inferiority to Eliza, John, and Georgiana Reed. — Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre , 1847
In Jane Eyre , the narration is provided by the story’s title character, a governess. The information shared comes from her memories and impressions—of the weather, her knowledge of Mrs. Reed’s dining habits, and her dread at receiving a lecture from Nurse Bessie. We are likewise shielded from information that Jane doesn’t know.
Many classic works of fiction feature characters made memorable by their first-person voices: The Catcher in the Rye (Holden Caulfield), The Handmaid's Tale (Offred), or To Kill a Mockingbird (Scout Finch). In some stories, such as in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby , the first person narrator (Nick Carraway) is an observer of the character around whom the story is centered (Jay Gatsby).
Second Person
Second-person narration is a little-used technique of narrative in which the action is driven by a character ascribed to the reader, one known as you . The reader is immersed into the narrative as a character involved in the story. The narrator describes what "you" do and lets you into your own thoughts and background. The most well-known piece of fiction that employs second-person narration might be Jay McInerney’s novel Bright Lights, Big City .
At the subway station you wait fifteen minutes on the platform for a train. Finally a local, enervated by graffiti, shuffles into the station. You get a seat and hoist a copy of the New York Post. The Post is the most shameful of your several addictions. — Jay McInerney, Bright Lights, Big City , 1984
You will also find second-person narration used in the "Choose Your Own Adventure" style of books popular with younger readers, in which readers determine where the story goes by which page they turn to next. Allowing the reader to "be" the central character in the story provides an immersive reading experience, enhancing what is at stake for the character and reader.
Third Person Point of View
In third-person narration, the narrator exists outside the events of the story, and relates the actions of the characters by referring to their names or by the third-person pronouns he, she, or they.
Third-person narration can be further classified into several types: omniscient, limited, and objective.
Third Person Omniscient
Omniscient means "all-knowing," and likewise an omniscient narrator knows every character’s thoughts, feelings, and motivations even if that character doesn’t reveal any of those things to the other characters.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott serves as a good example of third-person omniscient narration:
"Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents," grumbled Jo, lying on the rug. "It's so dreadful to be poor!" sighed Meg, looking down at her old dress. "I don't think it's fair for some girls to have plenty of pretty things, and other girls nothing at all," added little Amy, with an injured sniff. "We've got Father and Mother, and each other," said Beth contentedly from her corner. The four young faces on which the firelight shone brightened at the cheerful words, but darkened again as Jo said sadly, "We haven't got Father, and shall not have him for a long time." She didn't say "perhaps never," but each silently added it, thinking of Father far away, where the fighting was. — Louisa May Alcott, Little Women , 1868
The story is not told from the point of view of Meg, Jo, Beth, or Amy, but from someone who is observing the four sisters as they talk to one another. Each character is therefore referred to by their names or the third-person pronoun she . The narrator does not exist as a character in the story, and the girls do not acknowledge the narrator’s presence.
However, the narrator is omniscient, which means that they know what the characters are thinking. This is demonstrated in the last line of the excerpt, when the girls silently ponder the thought of their father never returning from the war.
Third Person Limited
In third-person limited narration, the narrator still exists outside the events of the story, but does not know the motivations or thoughts of all the characters. Rather, one character is the driver of the story, and the reader is given a closer peek into that character’s psyche than the others.
J. K. Rowling utilizes third-person limited narration in the Harry Potter novels. Even though the narrator is not Harry, and Harry is referred to as 'he,' the reader is allowed into Harry's thoughts—what he is wondering without saying out loud. We are also, like Harry, left uncertain about what other characters are thinking:
Three days later, the Dursleys were showing no sign of relenting, and Harry couldn't see any way out of his situation. He lay on his bed watching the sun sinking behind the bars on the window and wondered miserably what was going to happen to him. What was the good of magicking himself out of his room if Hogwarts would expel him for doing it? Yet life at Privet Drive had reached an all-time low. Now that the Dursleys knew they weren't going to wake up as fruit bats, he had lost his only weapon. Dobby might have saved Harry from horrible happenings at Hogwarts, but the way things were going, he'd probably starve to death anyway. — J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets , 1999
Third-Person Objective
In third-person objective narration, the narrator reports the events that take place without knowing the motivations or thoughts of any of the characters. We know little about what drives them until we hear them speak or observe their actions. The resulting tone is often matter-of-fact, not colored by any opinions or commentary, nor of knowledge of what takes place outside the scene.
The people of the village began to gather in the square, between the post office and the bank, around ten o'clock; in some towns there were so many people that the lottery took two days and had to be started on June 25th. But in this village, where there were only about three hundred people, the whole lottery took less than two hours, so it could begin at ten o'clock in the morning and still be through in time to allow the villagers to get home for noon dinner. — Shirley Jackson, "The Lottery," 1948
Word of the Day
See Definitions and Examples »
Get Word of the Day daily email!
Games & Quizzes
Usage Notes
Prepositions, ending a sentence with, 33 transition words and phrases, is 'irregardless' a real word, 8 more grammar terms you used to know: special verb edition, fun funner funnest, grammar & usage, every letter is silent, sometimes: a-z list of examples, how to use em dashes (—), en dashes (–) , and hyphens (-), the difference between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.', plural and possessive names: a guide, 31 useful rhetorical devices, pilfer: how to play and win, 8 words with fascinating histories, flower etymologies for your spring garden, 8 words for lesser-known musical instruments, it's a scorcher words for the summer heat.
Still have questions? Leave a comment
Add Comment
Checklist: Dissertation Proposal
Enter your email id to get the downloadable right in your inbox!
Examples: Edited Papers
Need editing and proofreading services, third-person point of view: definition, types, examples.
- Tags: Fiction , Fiction Writing
Do you want to make your writing expansive and engaging? Use the third-person point of view to achieve this by stepping outside a character’s head. Include as many viewpoints, angles, and plots as possible to offer readers a riveting narrative.
In this article, we will discuss the concept of writing in the third person. This perspective allows you to enjoy creative liberties when writing about varied emotions, events, motives, plots, scenes, and characters. Read on as we explore how to write in the third-person point of view with examples.
Working on your book? Get professional editing support today! Learn more
What is the third-person point of view?
The third-person point of view is a storytelling method where the narrator steps outside a story to narrate from various angles and perspectives. The purpose is to cover several relevant aspects of the story to spin a gripping tale. Instead of narrating the story through the eyes of a single character, the narrator relays events using third-person pronouns like “he”, “she”, and “they”.
For readers, stories written in the third person bring anticipation, emotion, fear, agitation, excitement, and intrigue, among other simple and complex feelings. This perspective opens up a range of possibilities for writers, too. If you are keen on exploring different writing approaches to suit your story as a writer, this is the POV to choose.
Here are some examples of writing in the third-person point of view:
- Mariah walked down the path, feeling the warmth of the sun on her face.
- The researchers conducted a study on the effects of climate change on coastal communities.
- He gazed out the window, wondering if she would ever return.
Types of third-person point of view
Selecting a suitable point of view significantly impacts how your story is perceived and understood by readers. In the third-person POV, the narrator looks at a story from the outside. The third-person point of view definition says that this approach offers readers a highly versatile and comprehensive perspective.
There are three primary types of third-person point of view: third-person limited, third-person omniscient, and third-person objective. Understanding these types can help you decide how best to present your plot and portray your characters to engage your audience effectively.
1. Third-person limited point of view
The third-person limited POV talks about the experiences, emotions, and thoughts of a single character, or a few characters, while still narrating the story from an external standpoint. It gives the narrator the freedom to take the story in different directions.
The narrator does not know about the inner thoughts and motivations of all the characters in the story. So, it is a restricted but flexible viewpoint because a perspective shift is possible. Here is an example:
“David stood at the edge of the cliff, his heart pounding as he stared down at the churning sea below. Fear gripped him, but he knew he had to jump. The memories of his father’s daring adventures flooded his mind. With a deep breath, he closed his eyes and stepped off the edge.”
2. Third-person omniscient point of view
In the third-person omniscient POV, the narrator knows everything about all the characters and events in a story. This narrator can access the experiences and emotions of every character in the story.
This perspective provides an all-round view, where the entire story comes alive as a cohesive piece. Here is an example:
“Across the busy city, Anna hurried through the crowded streets, clutching a letter in her hand. Little did she know, just a block away, Daniel waited anxiously at a café, hoping she would arrive soon. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to both of them, a storm was brewing on the horizon, threatening to disrupt their carefully laid plans.”
3. Third-person objective point of view
In the third-person objective POV, the narrator reports events with an impersonal approach. They do not dive deep into the inner thoughts or feelings of the characters while narrating the story.
This perspective provides an unbiased and detached view, where happenings or ongoings are only recorded from the outside. Here is an example:
“The town square buzzed with activity. Vendors called out to passersby, showing them their colorful wares. Children chased each other around the fountain, their laughter echoing through the air. A dog sniffed at scraps of food left behind on a bench, its tail wagging eagerly.”
How to write in the third-person point of view?
Writing in the third-person point of view involves narrating the story from an external perspective. Character names and their respective pronouns are used in such a narration. The narrator describes the events, feelings, and emotions without being on the scene to experience them. Also, the narrator describes the characters, or looks at them, without being one of them.
Depending on the chosen type—limited, omniscient, or objective—the narrator typically provides varying levels of insight into the characters’ lives and the events surrounding them. Consistency is key here, as is providing rich descriptions through dialogue .
Adequate, timely, and effective character development is crucial to offer readers an immersive reading experience. For example, in the Harry Potter series, JK Rowling built an intricate world of magic, friendship, and thrill by writing in the third-person limited point of view. She revealed plot twists and secrets gradually, and as Harry gathered more information about his life, so did the readers.
Tips for writing effectively using the third-person point of view
Here are some tips to help you write in the third-person point of view:
- Choose the POV: Select the right POV type based on your storytelling needs. Depending on what and how much information you wish to reveal at different points, select a narration style: third-person limited, third-person omniscient, or third-person objective.
- Use third-person point-of-view pronouns: Use “he”, “she”, “they”, “him”, “her”, “them”, etc., along with character names to maintain the third-person perspective and establish a strong narrative.
- Stay consistent: Stick to the chosen perspective throughout the narrative. Avoid switching between characters’ thoughts abruptly.
- Focus on character development: Use actions, dialogues, and conversations to reveal information about the characters in your story.
- Show, don’t tell: Describe events and actions to show how characters feel, emote, and think instead of directly stating how a character feels. “ Show, don’t tell ” is a powerful way to achieve this.
- Transition wisely: If you need to transition from one perspective to another, ensure it is done smoothly to avoid confusion and disconnect. Scene breaks are a good way to do this.
Third-person point of view in fiction and nonfiction
In fiction, the third-person point of view can be used to weave a story that creates fascination, mystery, intrigue, excitement, fear, and suspense, among other things. While the first-person point of view and second-person point of view are popular forms of writing, the third-person POV appeals to many old and contemporary fiction writers.
Let us see some examples of the third-person point of view in this section.
- Third-person limited:
Stacy walked through the bustling market, her thoughts drifting to the conversation she had overheard earlier.
Readers only have information about Stacy. They will not know what she overheard unless the narrator chooses to divulge.
- Third-person omniscient:
Across town, Shaun was preparing for the meeting, unaware that Mylee had already made up her mind about confronting him.
Readers become aware of Shaun and Mylee’s movements and actions in one go.
- Third-person objective:
The clock struck midnight as the car screeched to a halt outside the mansion. Lights flickered on in the windows on the upper floors.
The above sentence has a matter-of-fact tone; it does not evoke any emotions. Even if a dead body were to be dropped out of this car later, the narration does not build any suspense or anticipation at this point.
In nonfiction, this POV is used to detach from events, emotions, and opinions. It is commonly seen in news pieces, reports, academic writing , biographies, etc. Some examples of such writing are:
- News report:
The CEO announced plans to expand operations into Asia next quarter.
- Academic report:
The study examined the correlation between exercise, diet, and cardiovascular health in the nation’s youth.
- Biography:
He was born in a small town in 1948 and grew up dreaming of becoming a musician.
Popular instances of third-person point-of-view writing
In this section, we have listed some well-known examples of writing in the third person in the form of excerpts from novels. Let us know in the comments which one is your favorite!
Isn’t it interesting that the third-person POV can drastically change how you communicate with your audience?
Try writing your next book, blog , or article in the third person and see if this strategy works for you. If you need professional assistance, we can help! Explore PaperTrue’s editing and proofreading services for more information on what our editors can do for you.
You might also find the following articles useful and interesting:
- How to Write a Book Title (15 Expert Tips + Examples)
- 100 Novel and Book Ideas to Start Your Book Writing Journey
- Book Title Generators: Top 10 Book Name Generators of 2024
- On Being Tense about Tense: Present Tense Narratives in Novels
- Top 10 Screenplay & Scriptwriting Software (Free & Paid)
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the advantages of using the third-person point of view, which third-person point-of-view pronouns are not used in writing, why is the third-person point of view important in academic writing.
Found this article helpful?
Leave a Comment: Cancel reply
Your email address will not be published.
Your vs. You’re: When to Use Your and You’re
Your organization needs a technical editor: here’s why, your guide to the best ebook readers in 2024, writing for the web: 7 expert tips for web content writing.
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Get carefully curated resources about writing, editing, and publishing in the comfort of your inbox.
How to Copyright Your Book?
If you’ve thought about copyrighting your book, you’re on the right path.
© 2024 All rights reserved
- Terms of service
- Privacy policy
- Self Publishing Guide
- Pre-Publishing Steps
- Fiction Writing Tips
- Traditional Publishing
- Additional Resources
- Dissertation Writing Guide
- Essay Writing Guide
- Academic Writing and Publishing
- Citation and Referencing
- Partner with us
- Annual report
- Website content
- Marketing material
- Job Applicant
- Cover letter
- Resource Center
- Case studies
Third Person
What is third person.
- I am speaking to you about her .
- The policeman is speaking to the teacher about Anne .
Table of Contents
"Third Person" Explained
Third person in grammar, examples of third person pronouns in different cases, first, second, and third person pronouns, why the third person is important, video lesson.
- Third Person Narrative . A third-person narrative is a story told using the pronouns "he," "she," "it," or "they" or using nouns. In other words, the story is not told from a personal perspective. A third-person narrative contrasts with a first-person narrative, which is a story told from a personal perspective using the pronoun "I" (and sometimes "we").
- To Write in the Third Person . "To write in the third person" means to use nouns or the pronouns "he," "she," "it," or "they." It is common in business writing.
- Third Party Insurance . Third-party insurance protects against the claims of others. Look at the following sentence: I (the first party) am ensured by you, the insurer (the second party), to protect me against them (the third party).
- First person : "I" and "we"
- Second person : "you"
- Third person: "He/She/It" and "They"
| Person | | Possessive Case | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Third Person Singular | he / she / it Example: is not happy. | him / her / it Example: We saw . | his / her / its Example: We were support. | his / hers / its These were . |
| Third Person Plural | they Example: are leaving. | them Example: We like . | their Example: We were allies. | theirs These are . |
- Masculine gender : He, him, his
- Feminine gender : She, her, hers
- Neuter gender : It, its
| Person | | Possessive Case | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Person Singular | I | me | my | mine |
| Second Person Singular | you | you | your | yours |
| Third Person Singular | he/she/it | him/her/it | his/her/its | his/hers/its |
| First Person Plural | we | us | our | ours |
| Second Person Plural | you | you | your | yours |
| Third Person Plural | they | them | their | theirs |
(Reason 1) Understanding the person categories is useful for learning a foreign language.
| Person | English | German | French | Spanish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Person Singular | I play | ich spiele | je joue | yo juego |
| Second Person Singular | you play | du spielst | tu joues | tu juegas |
| Third Person Singular | he/she/it plays | er/sie/es spielt | il/elle joue | el/ella/usted juega |
| First Person Plural | we play | wir spielen | nous jouons | nosotros jugamos |
| Second Person Plural | you play | ihr spielt | vous jouez | vosotros jagais |
| Third Person Plural | they play | Sie spielen | ils/ells jouent | ellos/ellas/ustedes juegan |
(Reason 2) Using the third person presents a formal air.
- Avro Corps will handle your complaint within 48 hours.
- We will handle your complaint within 48 hours.
(Reason 3) Using the third person for storytelling can make you seem all-knowing.
- In business, write in the first person for a personal touch.
- When writing fiction, write in the first person to engage your audience quickly.
- Don't say or write "between you and I"...ever.
(Reason 4) The third-person possessive determiner "its" not "it's."
Are you a visual learner? Do you prefer video to text? Here is a list of all our grammar videos .
This page was written by Craig Shrives .
You might also like...
Help us improve....
Was something wrong with this page?
Use #gm to find us quicker .
Create a QR code for this, or any, page.
mailing list
grammar forum
teachers' zone
Confirmatory test.
This test is printable and sendable
expand to full page
show as slides
download as .doc
print as handout
send as homework
display QR code
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Astrophysics
- Earth Science
- Environmental Science
- Organic Chemistry
- Precalculus
- Trigonometry
- English Grammar
- U.S. History
- World History
... and beyond
- Socratic Meta
- Featured Answers
How do you write an essay in third person?
By putting it in third person, you are able to list sources, and you are encouraged to do so. That's why you're asked to write essays in third person.
This is the way your sentence should be:
School lunches are very bad because according to The New York Times , the 2012 Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act causes children to not like how the food tastes, and so they do not eat it.
By writing in third-person, you are able to present evidence to your reader. So when you write in third person, show what you know, with evidence backing up your points.
It won't be as redundant as saying "I think/believe" or "I feel" when we know/hope you wrote the paper and you hopefully have sources to back up your claims.
Related questions
- Question #0c999
- What is a noun phrase in linguistics?
- Why is "internet" a proper noun?
- Which proper nouns should be capitalized?
- What are some examples of plural nouns?
- Can you change a common noun to a proper noun?
- What's the definition of a proper noun?
- What are some examples of collective nouns?
- What are some examples of common nouns?
- What are some examples of compound nouns?
Impact of this question
- Antisocial Media
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Third-Person Perspective
Third-person perspective is writing from the point-of-view of an outsider telling the story. This allows the writer to explore different characters and for multiple perspectives to be inferred, though does not have to mean that is the case.
Typically, third-person falls into two categories: third-person omniscient, where the narrator knows everything about the world and all characters; and third-person limited, where the narrator only knows details about key characters and learns as events unfold throughout the story. Both use variations on ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’, and ‘they’ to include characters in the story, and, depending on the awareness and objectivity of the narrator, to impart opinion and decisions.
Third-person omniscient is writing from the viewpoint of a God-like figure who can see all and is aware of every character’s thoughts. The narrator may also know what is coming and have insight into the plot, though this is not always the case. The narrator is able to observe all.
What does she fear? Paul wondered. The old woman studied Paul in one gestalten: face oval like Jessica’s, but strong bones…hair: the Duke’s black-black but with the browline of the maternal grandfather who cannot be named, and that thin, disdainful nose; shape of directly staring green eyes: like the old Duke, the paternal grandfather who is dead. Now, there was a man who appreciated the power of bravura—even in death, the Reverend Mother thought. Frank Herbert, Dune
In the space of three paragraphs Herbert changes internal perspective by showing direct thoughts from Paul and then the Reverend Mother, with a transitionary paragraph between showing the Reverend Mother’s actions and indirect thoughts as she studies Paul’s face. For any other perspective, this would be impossible in multiple characters in this way, with the possible exception of a combined first and second-person point-of-view.
Third-person limited only offers insight into the thoughts of one character, instead of all. That means the narrator only knows what the protagonist knows, and so the reader also is limited in their understanding. On some occasions, writers may choose to include elements of first-person point-of-view by mentioning character thoughts and feelings without using ‘he thought’ or ‘she felt’ in the text. This allows for more intimacy and helps break down the distance between the narrator and the characters.
The vampire was watching him with his back to the window. The boy could make out nothing of his face now, and something about the still figure there distracted him. He started to say something again but he said nothing. And then he sighed with relief when the vampire moved towards the table and reached for the overhead cord. Anne Rice, Interview with the Vampire
Interview with the Vampire only allows us into the thoughts of the boy interviewing Louis, the titular vampire. The main part of the story is Louis describing his life, but that is all expressed through dialogue in a first-person narration, and in that respect what Louis says can be questioned and dissected. The wraparound scenes where the boy is interviewing Louis share the boy’s reactions, starting with disbelief and then disgust, and ending with fascination and obsession. The reader experiences the vampire as the boy does.
Third-person narration can also show the limited perspective of multiple characters. In this case, information is still only discovered by the narrator as the character discovers it, but more than one character can make those discoveries.
He was tempted to fly or rent a car, but he was short of money and he liked buses better and he figured nothing much was going to happen on the weekend anyway. What happened on the weekend was that Rosemary Barr called her firm’s investigator back. She figured Franklin would have a semiindependent point of view. She got him at home, ten o’clock in the morning on the Sunday. Lee Child, One Shot
In this example, Child switches from the perspective of protagonist Jack Reacher to supporting character Rosemary Barr. Both have internal thoughts revealed in the text, but notably both sets of thoughts are distinct in their representation and are written with slightly different styles, whilst also maintaining the consistency of the narrator’s voice.
The Advantages of Third-Person Perspective
Third-person point-of-view allows you to float between multiple characters; whether that is sticking to a single character per scene, as in limited third-person, or jumping from one to another at will. This offers a great level of depth and opportunity for extensive development.
By writing in third-person you can show both the characters’ thoughts along with what is actually happening, allowing the reader to clearly see the difference between opinion and fact, and thereby including the bigger picture within the story.
Your main character can still think, feel, and experience through their senses, but so can other characters, which can allow for a greater sense of a scene as you switch between viewpoints.
Third-person can prevent your story being limited by one character’s voice, and opens the possibility for more detailed explanations that their vocabulary would allow.
There is a greater potential for tension as there is no telling which characters will actually survive the story.
The Disadvantages of Third-Person Perspective
Third-person narration, by nature, has the characters at arm’s length. This means your reader is even further detached than you are as the writer, and this can prevent some readers building empathy with your characters.
The more characters you focus on, the more diluted the reader’s connection is with each. It is very difficult to ensure the reader will empathise with all your characters and the longer the gap between following each, the less the reader will be involved with them.
Multiple characters can also become confusing to follow as without creating a strong, unique voice for each, they can all begin to sound the same.
There is less possibility of an unreliable narrator with third-person, as it would not be the character that lies, but the storyteller. With third-person limited this can be worked around by giving the narrator a distinctive voice and style, however third-person omniscient must remain reliable due to the nature of the narration.
The Balance of Third-Person Perspective
To effectively tell a story using third-person point-of-view you must know all the characters you are going to focus on, and tell the tale well from each of their perspectives. Each character needs their own thinking style, but your narrator must also remain consistent in their own delivery. This allows for a strong sense of scale in the story, but also affords the writer the luxury of telling scenes from multiple perspectives and therefore offering differing accounts.
Stephen, an elbow rested on the jagged granite, leaned his palm against his brow and gazed at the fraying edge of his shiny black coat-sleeve. Pain, that was not yet the pain of love, fretted his heart. Silently, in a dream she had come to him after her death, her wasted body within its loose brown graveclothes giving off an odour of wax and rosewood, her breath, that had bent upon him, mute, reproachful, a faint odour of wetted ashes. Across the threadbare cuffedge he saw the sea hailed as a great sweet mother by the wellfed voice beside him. The ring of bay and skyline held a dull green mass of liquid. A bowl of white china had stood beside her deathbed holding the green sluggish bile which she had torn up from her rotting liver by fits of loud groaning vomiting. James Joyce, Ulysses
Joyce brings a sense of stream-of-consciousness to the third-person narration in this extract, shifting into Stephen’s thoughts. In doing so, the barrier between reader and character is broken, allowing us insight into Stephen’s mindset whilst also remaining clear who we are reading about. The narrative shifts to other characters consistently, and often dances between limited and omniscient, yet the focus is always directional, so we are aware of whom we are reading about.
Third-person perspective offers the opportunity to expand a story beyond a single character, or observe a character at close range without continually intruding in their thoughts. The balance of writing it well comes from establishing the rules of the narrator and then adhering to them whilst maintaining enough intimacy with the key character or characters to allow the reader to become invested in them. It is a highly favoured perspective by writers, and understandably so.
Further Reading
Writing exercises, practical tasks.
Privacy Overview
Pat Kelley Writer
- Getting the best essay example
- Animal experimentation: essay sample
- Sample essay about drugs
- Jonathan Edwards: essay sample
- Paper sample about job shadowing
- Surrogacy: essay example
- Amazon rainforest: sample paper
- Sample essay about cheating
- Ivan The Terrible: sample paper
- Workplace electric hazards
- A paper sample: cinco de mayo
- Obesity and US kids: sample essay
- A sample essay on road fury
- Hip-hop: an essay template
- A sample essay: Saving private Ryan
- Adoption for same-sex couples
- Depression and cardiac problems
- A book review: The Name of War
- The tragedy of Julius Caesar
- Foundations of economics
- A paper example on family
- William James and functionalism
- Parliament in political system
- Dance as art: essay sample
- All Quiet on the Western Front essay ideas
- Persuasive paprer introduction
- Profile essay concluding paragraph
- Reflective paper introduction
- Strong essay about global warming
- Cause&effect paper thesis statement
- Descriptive paper conclusion
- Searching for good paper writing help
- Finding strong paper writing agency
- Strong argumentative essay outline
- Choosing a persuasive paper topic
- Paper about caital punishment
- Catchy descriptive paper on Disney World
- Strong persuasive essay about recycling
- Illustration paper layout
- Choosing persuasive paper titles
- Strong personal reflective paper
- 5-paragraph descriptive essay sample
- Long paper about junk food
- Creating a 5th grade informative paper
- Composing a catchy literary essay
- Getting assistance with essay writing
- Visual essay templates: sociology
- Bullying: getting essay samples
- Seeking reliable writers
- Creating an argumentative essay
- University admission essay examples
- Finding a sample paper on holidays
- Traits of great writing agencies
- Finding SAT essay examples
- Winning exploratory paper introduction
- College essay
Fundamental Rules Of Writing A 3rd Person Argumentative Essay
Are you in the process of creating a 3rd person argumentative essay, but are not sure what the fundamental rules of writing one are? By ensuring that you learn the correct way of approaching such a subject you’ll be able to increase the quality of your grade greatly. Just take the time to find out what these rules are, and you’ll see that they aren’t difficult to implement at all. With that thought in mind, here are the top things that you should consider when approaching the task of writing a 3rd person argumentative essay.
What Is An Argumentative Piece
In order to get the task done right you have to understand what an argumentative piece is, and here are the top points to understand:
- - As the name suggests you have to make an argument and defend it to the very end. The point is to take a stance on a topic and present good quality data and statistics to back up your claims.
- - Select a concise topic so that you have clearly defined what you will be arguing about. It will be difficult to create a solid argument if the topic is rather broad.
- - There should be three sections which are introduction, body and conclusion. The transition between the 3 different sections should be clear and smooth so that the project can achieve the top grade.
- - Each body paragraph should create some evidence to the point you are trying to make. The quality of the argument must be good, but that does not mean you can skip the research phase.
Learn How To Argue
If you don’t know how to create a good quality argument, then you should take a look at example argumentative projects. You will see how it is done so you know what must be included in your own project. You’ll see that such projects have distinct differences from the rest.
Furthermore, make sure that you always write in 3rd person and always keep to the same tone. You cannot switch to first person at any point of the writing phase of the project. You can also have a look at how this is done by checking out example projects online.
Online Help
- Dissertationexpert.org
Tricks & Hints
- Finding an expert to write my paper
- Third person argument essays: the basics
- Finding essay samples with MLA citations
- APA essay templates for college
- Getting example comparative essays
- In search of a good writer for essays
- Essay writing on IT: useful advice
- Concluding expository essays
- Great college essay templates
- Finding essay writers via the Internet
- Paper writing tips: family
- Short essay samples for college
- Immigration: synthesis essay writing
- Selecting a decent writing company
- Composing essays without much effort
- Finding an outstanding writing service
- Biology extended essay samples
- Outlining high school essays
- Middle school essay templates
- Hiring a proper writer to order essays
- Positive sides of essay writing agencies
2024 © patkelleywriter.com. All rights reserved.
- Have your assignments done by seasoned writers. We work 24/7. Just email us at:
- [email protected]
How to Replace I in Essays: Alternative 3rd Person Pronouns
replacing I in essays
Learning how to write an essay without using ‘I,’ ‘We,’ or ‘You,’ and other personal languages can be challenging for students.
The best writing skills recommend not to use such pronouns. This guide explores how to replace ‘I,’ ‘We,’ or ‘You’ in an essay and the methods to avoid them.
For those of us who have been able to overcome this, you will agree that there was a time when you experienced a challenge when finding alternatives to clauses such as “I will argue” or “I think.”
The good thing is that there are several methods of communicating your point and writing an essay without using ‘I’ or related personal language.
Let us Write your Essays! No Plagiarism
Get an expert writer to score an A in your next essay assignment. Place your order today, and you will enjoy it.
Why Avoid Using Pronouns in Formal Writing
Before identifying the communication methods without using personal language like “I,” it is best to know why we should avoid such language while writing essays.
The most important reason for avoiding such language is because it is not suitable for formal writing such as essays. Appropriate professional English should not include any form of personal pronouns or language.
The second and equally important reason to avoid using personal language while writing an essay is to sound impersonal, functional, and objective.
In formal English, personal pronouns conflict with the idea of being impersonal, functional, and objective because they make redundant references to the writer and other people.
Personal pronouns will make an essay seem to contain only the writer’s perspectives and others they have deliberately selected. Again, they will make the work appear subjective.
Another reason to avoid personal language while coming up with an essay is to avoid sounding as if you have an urgent need to impress the reader through wording.
Personal pronouns like “you” and “I” tend to suggest something important that is away from what the writing is all about.
By continually using “I,” “we,” or “you,” you are taking the reader’s attention from the essay to other personal issues. The essay becomes all about the writer.
That being said, let’s explore how to replace “I” in an essay.
Custom Essay Writing Service by vetted writers
Ways of avoiding pronouns “i,” “you,” and “we” in an essay.
You can replace the pronouns ‘I’, ‘You’, and ‘We’ by replacing them with acceptable wording, applying passive voice instead of pronouns, Using a third-person perspective, adopting an objective language, and including strong verbs and adjectives.
In our other guide, we explained the best practices to avoid using ‘you’ in essay writing and use academically sound words. Let us explore each of these strategies in detail.
1. Replacing it with an Acceptable Wording
This is a very good strategy for replacing “I” in an essay. The problem is that it is often difficult to find the right word to replace the personal pronoun. Though this is the case, “I” has some alternatives.
For example, if the verb that follows it revolves around writing and research, such as “…will present” or “…have described”, it is best to replace “I” with text-referencing nouns such as “the essay.”
If you wanted to say “I will present” or “I have described”, then the alternative will be “the essay will present,” or “as described in the essay.”
Another method of replacing “I” in an essay is using appropriate wording like “this writer” if the verb’s action is not within the text.
While this is sometimes acceptable, it is often advised to have no words here by using passive verbs or their equivalents.
A wording that may also be used but rarely suitable is “the researcher”. This alternative can only be used when your actions as a writer are completely detached from the writing.
2. Using Passive voice Instead of Pronouns
Another way to replace “I” and other personal pronouns in an essay is to use passive voice. This is achieved by transforming an active verb passive.
Though this is the case, the strategy is often difficult, and it may create sentence structures that are not acceptable in formal writing and language.
The sentences in which “I” can be successfully changed using this strategy is when an active verb describing an object is transformed into its passive form.
3. Using a Third-Person Perspective
This is a very important and applicable strategy when replacing “I” in an essay. This is where you avoid using first-person and second-person perspectives.
When referring to the subject matter, refer directly to them using the third person. For example, if you were to write, “I think regular exercise is good for mind and body”, you can replace it with “Regular exercise is good for mind and body”.
4. Use of Objective Language
Objective language is lost when a person uses informal expressions like colloquialisms, slang, contractions, and clichés. It is the reason why we discourage the use of contractions in essay writing so that you can keep things formal.
While informal language can be applicable in casual writing and speeches, it is not acceptable when writing essays. This is because you will be tempted to use a first-person perspective to convey your message.
5. Being Specific and using Strong Verbs and Adjectives
In most cases, essays that have been written using a lot of personal pronouns tend to be imprecise. When you want to avoid using “I” in your essay, try to be exact and straight to the point.
Personal pronouns tend to convey a subjective message, and it is up to the writer to explain their perspectives through writing.
Here, a writer will use a lot of “I think…” or “I believe…” to express their opinion. By doing so, the writer will end up wasting a lot of time explaining a concept.
Instead of doing that, it is best to look for appropriate verbs and adjectives to explain the points. Also, use objective language. Refer to the suggestions given by credible evidence instead of basing your arguments on what you think.
Get an essay written by a Team
Our team avoids plagiarism and ensures checks to guarantee a quality and ORIGINAL paper
Words to use Instead of Personal Pronouns like “You” and “I”
As noted, it is important to avoid using personal pronouns such as “You” and “I” when writing an essay.
By eliminating them or finding alternatives to them, your essay will be formal and objective. You can decide to eliminate them in a sentence.
For example, you could be having a sentence like “I think the author makes a valid point concerning capitalism.”
In this example, you can eliminate the personal language and write, “The author makes a valid point concerning capitalism.”
The second sentence goes straight to the point and is objective.
Other words to use instead of personal pronouns, like “You” and “I,” can be created when personal judgment words are avoided.
Instead, it is best to replace those words with those that refer to the evidence.
Examples of Ways to Replace Personal Pronouns
Below are examples of how personal judgment words can be replaced by words referring to the evidence.
- I feel – In light of the evidence
- From I think – According to the findings
- I agree – It is evident from the data that
- I am convinced – Considering the results
- You can see that – From the results, it is evident that
Using the third-person or “it” constructions can be used to replace personal pronouns like “You” and “I.” Such words also help to reduce the word count of your essay and make it short and precise.
For example, if you write “I conclude that, “replace those words with “it could be concluded that. ” Here, “it” constructions are helping replace personal pronouns to make the sentence more objective and precise.
To be more specific, words to replace personal pronouns like “I” include “one,” the viewer,” “the author,” “the reader,” “readers,” or something similar.
However, avoid overusing those words because your essay will seem stiff and awkward. For example, if you write, “I can perceive the plot’s confusion,” you can replace “I” by writing, “Readers can perceive the plot’s confusion.”
Words that can be used instead of personal pronouns like “You” include “one,” “the viewer,” reader,” “readers,” or any other similar phrases. It is similar to words that replace first-person pronouns.
For example, if you write “you can see that the poet’s tone is serious and urgent,” you can replace “You” by writing “readers/one can see that the poet’s tone is serious and urgent.”
Words to use Instead of “My” in an Essay
Since “My” demonstrates the possessiveness of something, in this case, the contents or thoughts within an essay, it makes the writing subjective. According to experts, writing should take an objective language . To do this, it is important to replace it.
You can replace the word “My” with “the”. For example, if you write, “My final thoughts concerning the issue are”, you can write, “The final thoughts concerning the issues are”.
In this case, the article “The” makes the sentence formal and objective.
Another method is eliminating the word “My” from the sentence to make it more objective and straight to the point.
In the same example above, if you write “My final thoughts concerning the issue are”, you can write “Final thoughts concerning the issue are”.
The major difference here is that the word “my” in the first example makes it subjective, and eliminating it from the sentence makes it sound formal and objective.
Final Advice
Therefore, when writing an essay, it is important to avoid personal pronouns like “You”, “I,” and “My.” Not all papers use third-person language. Different types of essays are formatted differently, a 5-paragraph essay is different from a 4-page paper , but all use third-person tones.
This is because an essay should be written in formal language, and using personal pronouns makes it appear and sound informal. Therefore, writing an essay without using ‘I’ is good.
Formal language makes your essay sound objective and precise. However, do not remove the first-person language when writing personal experiences in an essay or a paper. This is because it is acceptable and formal that way.
Order an Excellent Essay today!
Let us help you get that A in your next assignment. Place your order today, and you will enjoy the benefits.
With over 10 years in academia and academic assistance, Alicia Smart is the epitome of excellence in the writing industry. She is our managing editor and is in charge of the writing operations at Grade Bees.
Related posts
essay writing problems
10 Essay Writing Problems and their Easy Solutions
writing essay on your phone
How to Write an Essay or paper on your Phone: 3 Easy Ways
essay writing is important
7 reasons why Writing is Important in College & in Life
54 Best Transition Words for Paragraphs
Chris Drew (PhD)
Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]
Learn about our Editorial Process
Good transition words for starting a paragraph include addition phrases like ‘furthermore’, cause and effect words like ‘consequently’, and contradiction words like ‘however’. Scroll down for a full table of transition words.
Using transition words in your writing can help you improve the readability and flow of your paragraph to the next.
These words help your text flow seamlessly into the next idea, which shows your readers the relationship between paragraphs and phrases.
List of Transition Words for Starting a Paragraph
Transition words can fall into more than one category based on what type of transition in your paragraph you’re planning to make.
For example, you’d want a different transition word if your second paragraph contradicts your first than if it supports it. Take the following examples:
| Second body paragraph statement in the first body paragraph | Furthermore, What’s more, Similarly, Supporting evidence finds, Likewise. |
| Second body paragraph statement in the first body paragraph | However, Nevertheless, Contradictory evidence finds, Despite the above points. |
Here is a list of transition words and what category they fall under.
- Addition – A transition that combines two or more ideas and shows their relationship. Examples include, what’s more, equally important, again, also, and, furthermore, moreover, besides .
- Cause and Effect – When one idea triggers another. This lets the reader know that they are directly connected. Examples include, consequently, hence, therefore, thus, next, as a result .
- Clarification – This is to rephrase what was said to clarify a statement and provide emphasis. Examples include, in other words, that is to say, to clarify.
- Compare and Contrast – This shows a relationship between two ideas that are compared based on differences or similarities. Examples are, after all, although this may be true, in contrast, likewise, on the contrary, similarly, whereas, yet.
- Emphasis (Boosting) – This shows certainty. Examples include, emphatically, in fact, surprisingly, undeniably, in any case, indeed, never, without a doubt.
- Providing examples : For example, for instance, as illustrated by, take the following case in point.
- Exception or Contradiction – This happens when an action with a pre-conceived notion ends with a different action. Examples are, however, nevertheless, in spite of, of course, once in a while, despite.
- Summarize or conclude – This signals the reader that they are at the end of the paragraph. Examples are, as this essay has shown, as a result, In conclusion, therefore, thus, hence, in short, in brief.
- Sequential – This expresses a numerical sequence, conclusion, continuation, resumption, or summation. Examples are to change the topic, to conclude with, afterward, incidentally, by the way, initially.
List of Transition Words for New Paragraphs
| Emphatically, In fact, Surprisingly, Undeniably, Without a doubt, Indeed, Of course, Surely, Undoubtedly, Without a doubt. | |
| Furthermore, Moreover, Supporting the above points, Similar research has found, In fact ( ). | |
| To demonstrate, Evidence of this fact can be seen in, Proof of this point is found in, For instance, Compelling evidence shows, For a case in point, In fact, Notably, One study found, Supporting evidence shows. ( ). | |
| Consequently, Hence, Therefore, Thus, As a result, accordingly, The consequence is. | |
| In other words, That is to say, To clarify, For example, More evidence can be found, Furthermore. | |
| However, However, Conversely, Despite this, In spite of the above statements, Nonetheless, Nevertheless, A contradictory argument, Regardless. | |
| As this essay has shown, In conclusion, To summarize, The balance of evidence finds, The research compellingly indicates | |
| Firstly, Secondly, Thirdly, Subsequently, Next, Afterwards, Later, Consequently. |
Transition Words to Avoid
I recommend avoiding the following transition words:
| Your teacher may write: “If you mentioned this before, why are you saying it again?” | |
| This is a cliché transition word for beginning conclusion paragraphs. Instead, try using the callback method discussed in my . | |
| Too colloquial. Try using more formal language such as: “The weight of evidence finds…” | |
| Many teachers don’t like first person language in essays. Use third person language and back claims up with academic research rather than personal opinion (except if it’s a reflective piece). | |
| Teachers like to pick at you if you talk in generalizations. Instead, hedge your statements by saying “Sometimes”, “Often”, or “The majority of” and back this up with references. |
Examples in Sentences
The best way to understand transition words is to provide examples. Let’s look at this sentence:
“Amy did not study for her test. Therefore, she did not get a good result.”
When you see the word ‘therefore,’ the reader knows that this is a cause and effect. What happened in the first sentence caused a resulting action.
The transition word provided a seamless flow into the next sentence that describes this effect.
Using the transitional word, ‘therefore,’ shows that the two sentences are part of one idea/process. Even with skimming, the reader can guess what’s the resulting action. This is how transition words hold your ideas together. Without them, it’s like your piece is just a jumble of coherent words.
Transition words don’t have to be placed at the start of a sentence. Let’s look at this sentence:
“Many people came to the event. Cristine, Emily, and David, for instance.”
In this sentence, ‘for instance’ is at the end of the sentence. However, it still gives the reader the necessary information to see how the two sentences are linked.
What are Transition Words?
Transition words for beginning paragraphs help writers to introduce a shift, opposition, contrast, agreement, emphasis, purpose, result, or conclusion from what was previously written. They are essential in argumentative essays.
Transition words are like bridges between the different paragraphs in your pieces. They serve as the cues that help your reader understand your ideas. They carry your ideas from one sentence to the next and one paragraph to the next.
Transitional words and phrases link an idea from a sentence to the following paragraph, so your work is read smoothly without abrupt jumps or sudden breaks between concepts.
Why use Transition Words
Proper communication of your ideas through paragraphs is important in writing. In order for your reader to read your piece with a thorough understanding of each idea and point conveyed in the piece, you have to use transition words and phrases.
With the examples provided, you would see that transitions string together your ideas by establishing a clear connection between the sentences and paragraphs.
Without transition words, your work may seem daunting and stressful to read, and the reader will not understand the idea you’re trying to convey.
Transitional phrases are especially important when writing an essay or thesis statement , as each paragraph has to connect ideas effortlessly.
Therefore, when a paragraph ends, the next idea must have some link to the previous one, which is why transition words play an important role.
Where Else to use Transition Words in an Essay
Transition words are important English devices for essays and papers. They enhance the transitions and connections between the sentences and paragraphs, giving your essay a flowing structure and logical thought.
Transition terms may seem easy to remember; however, placing them in the incorrect manner can cause your essay to fall flat.
Here are some places where essays transition words may fit:
- To show a connection between evidence and the ending
- To flow into the next paragraph, use your closing statement at the conclusion of each one
- At the start of the first body paragraph
- At the start of the second body paragraph
- In some of the starting sections of your summary or introductory paragraphs
- In an overview of your opinions/solutions in the conclusion
When adding your transition words and phrases in your essay, make sure not to accidentally form an incomplete or fragmented sentence. This is common with transitions, such as, if, although, and since .
While transition words are important in any writing piece, you have to make sure that the word or phrase you choose matches the logic of the paragraph or point you’re making. Use these words and phrases in moderation, as too much of them can also heavily bring the quality of your work down.
- Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 10 Reasons you’re Perpetually Single
- Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 20 Montessori Toddler Bedrooms (Design Inspiration)
- Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 21 Montessori Homeschool Setups
- Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 101 Hidden Talents Examples
Leave a Comment Cancel Reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Common App Essay in Third Person
<p>I want to write my common app essay in third person, and then switch onto first. I just want to get a second, third, etc. opinion on this. (This is for the essay about failure)</p>
<p>How I want to start: Once upon a time there was a girl who was so filled with emotion she had to find a medium to pour it all into. One day that girl found two; poetry and photography. She had grown comfortable over the following years and during her junior year in high school chanced upon a contest. </p>
<p>The rest of that first paragraph continues in that style to explain the situation and circumstance. Basically the girl decides to participate in a contest.</p>
<p>For the second paragraph, I want to switch to first person. So it would be something like:</p>
<p>That girl, I, had…</p>
<p>This way I could answer all the other questions with my thoughts and whatnot.</p>
<p>Anyway, is switching POV alright? I’m going to use strictly third in the beginning and strictly first for the rest of it. I won’t be switching back and forth or anything like that. Is using third person for any of this ok?</p>
<p>sounds impersonal. The prompt isn’t about your wiring abilities. It’s about explaining yourself and your accomplishments, trials, tribulations, etc.</p>
<p>i would stick to first</p>
<p>I’m planning on explaining all that in first. I just want to set the scene in third person. So like:</p>
<p>The girl had decided to participate in the contest.</p>
<p>Then from there I start going on in first person. So basically, After that girl, I, had decided to participate, blah blah blah and blah happened. When I submitted the final book, I was so proud of myself. Blah blah blah. Sadly, I hadn’t won. I was happy for the winners, but blah blah blah. This year, I’ve decided to participate again. Blah Blah Blah.</p>
<p>Obviously without the blahs, and with more details but I WILL be elaborating upon my character, experience, etc. in my own voice. I just wanted to start off by setting the scene in third person, so the situation is better explained.</p>
<p>I don’t see why you need third person to set the scene/ You could easily use first (I decided to participate etc)</p>
<p>I find it easier to set the scene in third person. </p>
<p>It’s not really a matter of need. I just want to know if, if I do it appropriately of course, it’s ok to do. </p>
<p>And again, only for setting the scene.</p>
<p>i don’t know if it’s ok without seeing your writing/ do it if you want and make sure to have someone proofread it.</p>
<p>It seems weak and unfocused. It sounds like you just don’t have a good personal statement and are trying to drag it out with elaborate wiring. With the size restriction in place every word needs to count. Wasting space with clutter like “Once upon a time” is no good.</p>
<p>What would be the point of having just one sentence in third person? I think it makes everything unnecessarily confusing.</p>
<p>Stick to first. A lot of people try the third person thing.</p>
<p>Ugh.</p>
<p>Thank you all for taking the time to respond. @Careful , I wasn’t planning on having that cheesy a reveal. </p>
<p>Anywho, I will take all of what you guys said into consideration. Again, thank you for responding.</p>
<p>I think it is a bad idea. From your example, it sounds artificial and gimmicky. It has an impersonal distancing effect. It seems like you are trying to avoid the hard work of being authentic.</p>
Get the Reddit app
Discussions about the writing craft.
Switching between 3rd and 1st person
Hi everyone! I was wondering if I could get a bit of advice or feedback. Currently I’ve written a prologue in 3rd person and from the POV of one of the main characters. However I plan for the rest of the novel to continue in 1st person. Is this okay? Alternatively, is it possible to keep one characters perspective in 3rd person while another is in 1st? Any and all help would be appreciated!
By continuing, you agree to our User Agreement and acknowledge that you understand the Privacy Policy .
Enter the 6-digit code from your authenticator app
You’ve set up two-factor authentication for this account.
Enter a 6-digit backup code
Create your username and password.
Reddit is anonymous, so your username is what you’ll go by here. Choose wisely—because once you get a name, you can’t change it.
Reset your password
Enter your email address or username and we’ll send you a link to reset your password
Check your inbox
An email with a link to reset your password was sent to the email address associated with your account
Choose a Reddit account to continue
Third to First person Converter
Effortlessly convert your writing from third-person ("They") to first-person ("I") with our AI-powered Third-Person Converter. Enhance clarity, widen reach, and try it for free!
To unlock limitless input, upgrade to our Pro plan
- Authoritative
- Conservative
- Conversational
- Enthusiastic
- Informative
- Inspirational
- Journalistic
- Matteroffact
- Professional
- Provocative
- Sympathetic
- Trustworthy
- Unapologetic
- Authoritative Pro
- Cheerful Pro
- Conservative Pro
- Conversational Pro
- Convincing Pro
- Creative Pro
- Enthusiastic Pro
- Expository Pro
- Friendly Pro
- Humorous Pro
- Informative Pro
- Inspirational Pro
- Irreverent Pro
- Journalistic Pro
- Matteroffact Pro
- Nostalgic Pro
- Objective Pro
- Passionate Pro
- Playful Pro
- Professional Pro
- Provocative Pro
- Respectful Pro
- Romantic Pro
- Sarcastic Pro
- Serious Pro
- Subjective Pro
- Sympathetic Pro
- Thoughtful Pro
- Trustworthy Pro
- Unapologetic Pro
- Worried Pro
- English (US)
- German (Germany)
- Italian (Italy)
- Japanese (Japan)
- Russian (Russia)
- Portuguese (Portugal)
- Hindi (India)
- Urdu (Pakistan)
- Arabic (Saudi Arabia)
- French (France)
- English (UK)
- English (Australia)
- English (Canada)
- English (India)
- English (Singapore)
- English (New Zealand)
- English (South Africa)
- Spanish (Spain)
- Spanish (Mexico)
- Spanish (United States)
- Arabic (Egypt)
- Arabic (United Arab Emirates)
- Arabic (Kuwait)
- Arabic (Bahrain)
- Arabic (Qatar)
- Arabic (Oman)
- Arabic (Jordan)
- Arabic (Lebanon)
- Danish (Denmark)
- German (Switzerland)
- German (Austria)
- French (Canada)
- French (Switzerland)
- French (Belgium)
- Italian (Switzerland)
- Dutch (Netherlands)
- Dutch (Belgium)
- Portuguese (Brazil)
- Chinese (China)
- Chinese (Taiwan)
- Chinese (Hong Kong)
- Chinese (Singapore)
- Korean (South Korea)
- Finnish (Finland)
- Greek (Greece)
- Czech (Czech Republic)
- Swedish (Sweden)
- Norwegian (Norway)
- Turkish (Turkey)
- Polish (Poland)
- Romanian (Romania)
- Hungarian (Hungary)
- Thai (Thailand)
- Hebrew (Israel)
- Indonesian (Indonesia)
- Vietnamese (Vietnam)
- Malay (Malaysia)
- Tagalog (Philippines)
- Swahili (Kenya)
- Swahili (Tanzania)
- Zulu (South Africa)
- Xhosa (South Africa)
- Amharic (Ethiopia)
- Tamil (India)
- Tamil (Sri Lanka)
- Bengali (Bangladesh)
- Bengali (India)
- Punjabi (Pakistan)
- Punjabi (India)
- Marathi (India)
- Telugu (India)
- Kannada (India)
- Gujarati (India)
- Oriya (India)
- Malayalam (India)
- Urdu (India)
- Persian (Iran)
- Azerbaijani (Azerbaijan)
- Ukrainian (Ukraine)
- Belarusian (Belarus)
- Catalan (Spain)
- Basque (Spain)
- Galician (Spain)
- Slovak (Slovakia)
- Lithuanian (Lithuania)
- Latvian (Latvia)
- Estonian (Estonia)
- Bulgarian (Bulgaria)
- Albanian (Albania)
- Croatian (Croatia)
- Slovenian (Slovenia)
- Bosnian (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- Serbian (Serbia)
- Macedonian (North Macedonia)
- Montenegrin (Montenegro)
- Maltese (Malta)
- Irish (Ireland)
- Welsh (United Kingdom)
- Scots Gaelic (United Kingdom)
- Icelandic (Iceland)
- Luxembourgish (Luxembourg)
- Afrikaans (South Africa)
- Hausa (Nigeria)
- Yoruba (Nigeria)
- Somali (Somalia)
- Tigrinya (Eritrea)
- Kinyarwanda (Rwanda)
- Sesotho (Lesotho)
- Shona (Zimbabwe)
- Sinhala (Sri Lanka)
- Dhivehi (Maldives)
- Burmese (Myanmar)
- Khmer (Cambodia)
- Mongolian (Mongolia)
- Tibetan (China)
- Uighur (China)
- Pashto (Afghanistan)
- Dari (Afghanistan)
- Nepali (Nepal)
- Dzongkha (Bhutan)
- Sesotho (South Africa)
- Setswana (Botswana)
- Seselwa Creole (Seychelles)
- Mauritian Creole (Mauritius)
- Haitian Creole (Haiti)
- Greenlandic (Greenland)
- Faroese (Faroe Islands)
- Samoan (Samoa)
- Tongan (Tonga)
- English (UK) Pro
- English (Australia) Pro
- English (Canada) Pro
- English (India) Pro
- English (Singapore) Pro
- English (New Zealand) Pro
- English (South Africa) Pro
- Spanish (Spain) Pro
- Spanish (Mexico) Pro
- Spanish (United States) Pro
- Arabic (Egypt) Pro
- Arabic (United Arab Emirates) Pro
- Arabic (Kuwait) Pro
- Arabic (Bahrain) Pro
- Arabic (Qatar) Pro
- Arabic (Oman) Pro
- Arabic (Jordan) Pro
- Arabic (Lebanon) Pro
- Danish (Denmark) Pro
- German (Switzerland) Pro
- German (Austria) Pro
- French (Canada) Pro
- French (Switzerland) Pro
- French (Belgium) Pro
- Italian (Switzerland) Pro
- Dutch (Netherlands) Pro
- Dutch (Belgium) Pro
- Portuguese (Brazil) Pro
- Chinese (China) Pro
- Chinese (Taiwan) Pro
- Chinese (Hong Kong) Pro
- Chinese (Singapore) Pro
- Korean (South Korea) Pro
- Finnish (Finland) Pro
- Greek (Greece) Pro
- Czech (Czech Republic) Pro
- Swedish (Sweden) Pro
- Norwegian (Norway) Pro
- Turkish (Turkey) Pro
- Polish (Poland) Pro
- Romanian (Romania) Pro
- Hungarian (Hungary) Pro
- Thai (Thailand) Pro
- Hebrew (Israel) Pro
- Indonesian (Indonesia) Pro
- Vietnamese (Vietnam) Pro
- Malay (Malaysia) Pro
- Tagalog (Philippines) Pro
- Swahili (Kenya) Pro
- Swahili (Tanzania) Pro
- Zulu (South Africa) Pro
- Xhosa (South Africa) Pro
- Amharic (Ethiopia) Pro
- Tamil (India) Pro
- Tamil (Sri Lanka) Pro
- Bengali (Bangladesh) Pro
- Bengali (India) Pro
- Punjabi (Pakistan) Pro
- Punjabi (India) Pro
- Marathi (India) Pro
- Telugu (India) Pro
- Kannada (India) Pro
- Gujarati (India) Pro
- Oriya (India) Pro
- Malayalam (India) Pro
- Urdu (India) Pro
- Persian (Iran) Pro
- Azerbaijani (Azerbaijan) Pro
- Ukrainian (Ukraine) Pro
- Belarusian (Belarus) Pro
- Catalan (Spain) Pro
- Basque (Spain) Pro
- Galician (Spain) Pro
- Slovak (Slovakia) Pro
- Lithuanian (Lithuania) Pro
- Latvian (Latvia) Pro
- Estonian (Estonia) Pro
- Bulgarian (Bulgaria) Pro
- Albanian (Albania) Pro
- Croatian (Croatia) Pro
- Slovenian (Slovenia) Pro
- Bosnian (Bosnia and Herzegovina) Pro
- Serbian (Serbia) Pro
- Macedonian (North Macedonia) Pro
- Montenegrin (Montenegro) Pro
- Maltese (Malta) Pro
- Irish (Ireland) Pro
- Welsh (United Kingdom) Pro
- Scots Gaelic (United Kingdom) Pro
- Icelandic (Iceland) Pro
- Luxembourgish (Luxembourg) Pro
- Afrikaans (South Africa) Pro
- Hausa (Nigeria) Pro
- Yoruba (Nigeria) Pro
- Somali (Somalia) Pro
- Tigrinya (Eritrea) Pro
- Kinyarwanda (Rwanda) Pro
- Sesotho (Lesotho) Pro
- Shona (Zimbabwe) Pro
- Sinhala (Sri Lanka) Pro
- Dhivehi (Maldives) Pro
- Burmese (Myanmar) Pro
- Lao (Laos) Pro
- Khmer (Cambodia) Pro
- Mongolian (Mongolia) Pro
- Tibetan (China) Pro
- Uighur (China) Pro
- Pashto (Afghanistan) Pro
- Dari (Afghanistan) Pro
- Nepali (Nepal) Pro
- Dzongkha (Bhutan) Pro
- Sesotho (South Africa) Pro
- Setswana (Botswana) Pro
- Seselwa Creole (Seychelles) Pro
- Mauritian Creole (Mauritius) Pro
- Haitian Creole (Haiti) Pro
- Greenlandic (Greenland) Pro
- Faroese (Faroe Islands) Pro
- Samoan (Samoa) Pro
- Tongan (Tonga) Pro
Why Choose Third-to-First Person Converter?
Transform narratives effortlessly. The Third-to-First Person Converter turns your third-person content into engaging first-person narratives with ease.
- Convert third-person narratives to first-person, making your content more personal and relatable.
- Save time and effort by automating the conversion process, ensuring consistency and quality.
- Customize the tone and style to match your voice and purpose.
How Does Third-to-First Person Converter Work?
Easily switch perspectives in your writing with the Third-to-First Person Converter. Here's how it works:
1. Provide Your Input
Enter your value in the input box. The AI will interpret the input within the given context.
2. Generate
Click the "Generate" button to craft a compelling and well-structured response.
Use Cases of Third-to-First Person Converter
Explore how the Third-to-First Person Converter can enhance your writing across various formats. Whether you're writing stories, reports, or personal blogs, this tool helps you create engaging and personalized content.
Stories Convert third-person narratives into first-person stories to create a deeper connection with readers. The tool ensures a smooth and coherent transition, maintaining the original essence of the story while making it more immersive.
Reports Transform third-person reports into first-person narratives to add a personal touch. This can be particularly useful for reflective reports, case studies, or personal accounts, making your writing more engaging and relatable.
Personal Blogs Rewrite third-person blog posts in the first person to create a more intimate and conversational tone. The converter helps infuse your personality into the content, enhancing reader engagement and connection.
Essays Convert academic essays from third-person to first-person to add a personal perspective. This tool is especially helpful for personal statements, reflective essays, and narrative essays, making your writing more authentic and impactful.
Who Benefits from Third-to-First Person Converter?
From authors and bloggers to students and professionals, everyone can benefit from the Third-to-First Person Converter.
Authors Authors can use the converter to switch perspectives in their narratives, adding depth and variety to their storytelling. This tool helps create first-person accounts that resonate more deeply with readers, enhancing the overall reading experience.
Bloggers Bloggers can transform their posts to make them more personal and engaging. By converting third-person content to first-person, bloggers can connect more intimately with their audience, fostering a loyal readership.
Students Students can enhance their essays and assignments by adding a personal touch. The converter helps in rewriting third-person content into first-person, making reflective pieces more genuine and impactful, and helping overcome writer’s block.
Professionals Professionals can use the converter to personalize reports, presentations, and other documents. By turning third-person narratives into first-person accounts, the tool helps create content that is more engaging and relatable for clients and colleagues.
Error message
Boost your productivity & creativity!
- 500+ tools to spark your creativity.
- 100+ languages, conquer the globe.
- 20+ tones & styles, find your perfect brand voice.
- No document or input limits, write forever!
- Priority support & early access to new features!
- Limited-time offer
Still hesitant? We offer 7-Day Money-Back Guarantee Without Question.
Elevate Every Aspect of Your Work
LogicBalls combines brainstorming, writing, analysis, and research in one powerful AI tool. Enhance your professional content now!
11 Other Ways To Say “I Think” And “I Believe” In An Essay
It can be tempting to say “I think” or “I believe” in an essay, especially when writing a personal narrative or opinion-based essay. The issue with this phrase is they tend to read as informal and weak. This article will explore some stronger alternatives that are worth considering.
What Can I Say Instead Of “I Think” And “I Believe”?
There are many different ways to express that what you’re saying is an opinion or a conclusion you have drawn using stronger wording than “I think” and “I believe.” Here are some options:
- In my opinion
- It could be argued
- Many believe
- This suggests
- It can be concluded
- It makes sense
- This proves
- This supports the idea
- X makes a strong case
The preferred option is “in my opinion.” “In my opinion” is clear and direct, and sounds more formal than “I believe” and “I think.” It’s a good way to make it clear that what you’re saying is your personal opinion while still sounding credible.
In My Opinion
“In my opinion” is a good choice when you’re writing a first-person essay. “Opinion” implies more fact-based consideration than “believe” and more depth than “think.” “Opinion” also comes off as more confident than both “think” and “believe.”
“In my opinion” sounds formal enough to be appropriate in an essay, but can still maintain the conversational tone that is typically expected in first-person essays.
Here’s what “in my opinion” looks like in context:
- In my opinion, every public school student should be offered a free lunch option.
- Reading through this book was challenging not for the content but for the dull writing style. In my opinion, it shouldn’t be upheld as a classic.
- In my opinion, neither argument was particularly convincing.
It Could Be Argued
This sort of hypothetical phrasing isn’t always considered strong, but “it could be argued” is still a solid choice for third-person essays that require you to explore various arguments.
“It could be argued” is useful when you need to analyze multiple arguments or look at something from multiple angles. It allows you to point out some arguments or thoughts people might have in general to develop your argument.
Here are some ways you can use “it could be argued”:
- It could be argued that teaching Shakespeare in school only serves to confuse students due to the extremely antiquated language.
- It could be argued that the color blue represents sadness, but there are many examples in the text that point to blue instead representing loneliness.
- The bird could be a representation of her fear. Conversely, it could be argued that the bird is there simply because the lead character loves birds.
Many Believe
“Many believe” is useful when you want to discuss widely held beliefs and the fact that these beliefs are widely held is common knowledge. You can also use “many believe” when you have a statistic to back up the claim.
“Many believe” is better than “I think” and “I believe” in those sorts of situations because it creates a less personal statement. That helps it feel more formal and makes the argument feel more expansive.
Here’s how you can use “many believe”:
- Many believe that eating any kind of fat is unhealthy, but nutritionists disagree.
- According to the poll, many believe that doing yoga and drinking enough water will cure certain mental illnesses.
This Suggests
“This suggests” is a great choice for drawing a conclusion based on the evidence you’ve presented. It’s stronger than “I think” and “I believe” because it explicitly ties your ideas to other ideas.
You’ll typically use “this suggests” after presenting some evidence or an argument. “This suggests” introduces your analysis and often your argument.
For example:
- The flowers in the vase didn’t die until after Ashley fought with her mother. This suggests that the state of the perpetually near-death flowers was serving as a metaphor for the state of Ashley’s relationship with her mother.
- Jodi’s favorite color was green. This suggests some part of her was tied to everything green represented in the novel, even if she denied it.
It Can Be Concluded
“It can be concluded” is a good replacement for “I think” and “I believe” in third-person writing. It emphasizes the conclusions you’re drawing based on previously detailed evidence.
Like “this suggests,” “it can be concluded” comes after you present some evidence or ideas. It directly connects your thinking to the evidence, which supports a strong argument.
Here are some examples:
- As such, it can be concluded that the core message of the story is the real reward was the friendships we made on the journey.
- It can be concluded that he never knew what happened to his father and was simply making up different versions of the story as the subject was too difficult for him to discuss directly.
It Makes Sense
“It makes sense” is a phrase can use to introduce a thought or insight you have. It’s subtly persuasive and can fit into both formal and informal essay styles.
“It makes sense” is deceptively strong wording. While it may seem soft at first, it can be used to make some really strong statements.
Here’s how that could look in practice:
- It makes sense that the school wouldn’t provide free lunches for students. It’s a costly plan, and the school district has a long track record of investing in administration before investing in student welfare.
- It makes sense that the play’s love story ended tragically. The playwright was newly divorced when she penned it, and her poetry from this time shows a similar disillusionment with romantic relationships.
This Proves
“This proves” is a strong way to connect your conclusions and arguments to previously presented evidence. This phrase is a good choice when you’re confident in your evidence and your argument, as using it after shaky evidence can harm your credibility.
Here’s what this might look like in context:
- The students who got more recess time did better on tests than children who had more quiet study time. This proves that children need more playtime throughout the day.
- This proves my original hypothesis, though not in the way I expected.
This Supports The Idea
This is another useful phrase for directly tying previously stated evidence to your arguments and conclusions. Once you provide your evidence, you can go into your argument by saying “this supports the idea that…”
“This supports the idea” is a deeply academic phrase. It doesn’t come off too strong, nor does it read as personal or informal. It reads as objective, which can support your credibility in the eyes of the reader.
Here are some examples:
- Lisa ultimately gave the flower to Joan. This supports the idea that the flower was representative of trust.
- In this scene, the characters’ loyalties are made clear by where they are standing in relation to the protagonist. John is standing next to the protagonist. This supports the idea that, despite what he says, he truly was loyal to the protagonist.
X Makes A Strong Case
“X makes a strong case” is a phrase when you want to specifically tie in an argument someone else has made. It emphasizes the person who made the argument rather than what you think about the argument.
For example, if you wanted to say “I think Rodney is right about the dress code,” a stronger way to word that in an essay would be “Rodney makes a strong case about the dress code.”
Both sentences communicate that you think Rodney’s argument has merit, but using the “X makes a strong case” format emphasizes Rodney’s arguments rather than your evaluation of them.
This less-personal writing is generally considered to be more formal and thus more appropriate for academic writing.
Here are some more examples of how to use this phrase:
- The author makes a strong case in favor of the motion.
- In the novel, Susie’s father makes a strong case against the idea of Susie marrying a stranger.
“In my mind” is a strong phrase that is perfect for first-person narrative essays. It’s engaging, conversational wording that still maintains the formality expected in essays.
“In my mind” is a good way to word more personally held thoughts and beliefs without saying “I think” or “I believe.”
Here are some ways you could use “in my mind”:
- In my mind, nothing mattered more than the championship.
- In my mind, there was no way any of this could have a good outcome. I just didn’t see how it would work out.
Sometimes the best alternative to “I believe” and “I think” is simply to cut the phrase without providing a replacement. This makes your writing more succinct and straightforward and less informal.
Replacing “I think” and “I believe” can support the style and flow of your writing, but deleting the lead-in entirely is common advice. The argument is that since you wrote the essay, “I think” and “I believe” are implied. It’s redundant to include them.
Take a look at these sentences:
- I think the power outage was caused by the wind storm.
- I believe students should have mentors throughout their time in school.
Here’s what they look like if you remove the lead-in:
- The power outage was caused by the wind storm.
- Students should have mentors throughout their time in school.
In these instances, removing the phrases entirely without replacing them made for stronger statements.
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here .
- 10 Better Ways To Write “In This Essay, I Will…”
- 9 Other Ways To Say “In My Opinion” (Formal & Friendly)
- 10 Other Ways to Say “I Am” in an Essay
- Can An Opinion Be Wrong Or Right? Full Explanation
Protect your data
This site uses cookies and related technologies for site operation, and analytics as described in our Privacy Policy . You may choose to consent to our use of these technologies, reject non-essential technologies, or further manage your preferences.
- Resume and Cover Letter
- How to Write a Short Bio?...
How to Write a Short Bio? (With Examples)
7 min read · Updated on August 28, 2024
A short professional biography is a great tool to have in your career marketing toolkit.
As you progress through your career, there will likely come a time when someone wants you to provide them with a professional biography. It could be that your boss wants to include something on the team page of the company website or perhaps you need to write a blurb about your biggest achievements for a social media page.
Regardless of the reason, you should always have one ready to go. Many people have quite a few questions about writing short professional bios, though, including
What is a bio?
How to write a short bio?
What voice to use in a short bio – first person or third person?
What is the format of a short biography?
What is a good bio example?
Let's just say that you're in the right place to find out.
What is a short bio?
Have you ever heard the phrase “elevator pitch?” Well, that's what a bio is. It's about 200 words that define who you are, what you do, what you've accomplished, and what your goals are. If that seems like a lot to put into a couple hundred words, you're right.
This isn't the time to go on and on about everything you've ever done. Since the purpose of a short professional bio is to introduce you to whoever is reading it, it's best to worry about only hitting the high notes.
Think about what you say when someone asks you the following:
What do you do?
How long have you done it?
What do you like most about it?
Have you ever won an award ?
Why do you want to keep doing what you do?
Your answers to those questions will help you craft your biography, though you'll probably have to pare down the wording to keep it within the requisite word count. Always remember KISS – Keep it Short and Simple.
How to write a short professional bio?
Just like with your resume, a short professional bio should contain key details. Those details should also appear in a predictable order.
Your name and current job title
Your professional philosophy
Some of your best skills
Career achievements
What you have your sights set on for the future
You could also include things like links to online portfolios or your contact information, depending on where the bio is going to be used. For example, if you're adding the short professional bio to a web page that already has your contact info, then you don't need to add it to the bio itself.
First-person vs third-person for your short professional bio
Before you start writing, you have to decide which voice you're going to use for your biography. Meaning, are you going to write it using first-person or third-person?
First-person writing involves using pronouns like “I,” “me,” and “my”
Third-person writing is when you avoid using personal pronouns and stick to possessive pronouns or possessive adjectives like "he," "she," "his," and "her"
It all depends on your audience. You'd choose to write your short professional bio in the first person if you're using it for personal websites, social media profiles , and networking events. It's better to use the third person when you're writing for company websites, professional directories, or other formal settings.
Short professional bio examples: Your name and current job title
This may seem like a given, but because it's such a simple thing, a lot of people try to overdo it. You literally only need to write something like this
Third-person: Janet Plunder is the Head of Marketing for We Are Creatives, Inc.
First-person: My name is Jeff Safeport, and I am the Network Manager for BitBytes.
Short professional bio examples: Your professional philosophy
Have you ever thought about the values and ethics you possess and how those shape your work and interaction with others? That is the basis of your professional philosophy. Prospective employers and future clients want to know how you distinguish yourself from others. The way you come up with your professional philosophy is through a little self-assessment. Ask yourself
What do I believe in?
What am I committed to?
What values are most important in my professional life?
How do I approach challenges?
Have I made any type of impact in my field?
This is what the philosophy statement could look like in your short bio:
- Third-person: She is known for leading with integrity, fostering collaborative environments, and continuously seeking innovative solutions that drive success.
- First-person: I am committed to prioritizing client satisfaction. Also, by embracing the idea of lifelong learning, I consistently strive for excellence in everything all projects I undertake.
Short professional bio examples: Your skills and qualifications
Going back to the concept of KISS, you want to avoid trying to include a laundry list of every skill you possess. The idea here is to focus on the abilities that set you apart in your field. You need to be specific not only about what you excel at but also how the particular skills you choose for your short professional bio have helped you be successful.
For example:
- Third-person: Jane is known for creating digital marketing strategies, with a particular focus on SEO and content marketing. She has a proven track record of increasing online visibility, brand awareness, and consumer engagement for countless globally branded companies.
- First-person : One of my strong suits is the ability to streamline processes in a way that improves productivity across international teams. I do this through full lifecycle project management and deep-dive data analysis.
Short professional bio examples: Your career achievements
Back when you were writing your resume, you probably heard over and over again how important career achievements are. There are millions of articles out there that tell you how to quantify the things you've accomplished in past jobs because that's how prospective employers know you'll be a benefit to their team.
The same holds true for your short professional bio. Your readers will be able to tell how you can help them by getting a glimpse into your career wins. Focus on notable awards and major projects that point to you achieving milestones.
Here's what that could look like:
- Third-person: Recently, she led a rebranding project that increased revenue by more than 20%, earning her the Innovator of the Year award.
- First-person : In my last position, I ascended to the prestigious President's Club after overhauling project processes and saving the company $10M.
Short professional bio examples: Your professional goals
The one thing that distinguishes a short professional bio from your other career marketing documents is that it not only showcases your history but it's also future-facing. This gives you a great opportunity to talk about your aspirations and which direction you are heading in your career.
You can show prospective employers and future clients that you're going to be around a while by talking about things like being “forward-thinking” and emphasizing your “commitment to growth,” as examples.
Here are a couple of short professional bio examples you can use as inspiration for your own professional goals :
- Third-person: Jane is looking forward to developing leadership skills to transition into an executive management role so that she can foster innovation at the corporate level.
- First-person : Since the beginning of my career, I've focused on expanding my expertise in cybersecurity and am poised to move into a Chief Information Officer position.
Leave a lasting impression
No matter what type of document you're writing for your career, the object is always to leave a lasting impression. That holds true even for a short professional bio. It may only be a couple hundred words, but they're very important words. Keep it concise, relevant, and engaging, and the right doors will open to propel you along your career journey.
The best way to get the right details into your short professional bio is to use information from your resume. Does your resume say what you need it to say about your skills, qualifications, and achievements? Upload it for a free review and find out.
Recommended reading:
20 Funny and Awkward Zoom Fails: Meetings Gone Wrong
10 Things Every Job Seeker Should Know Before Starting Their Search
Why the Handshake May Go Away — and Options to Replace It
Related Articles:
7 Best Personal Skills for Your Resume (With Examples)
Great Jobs for Teens: Top Picks for 16-Year-Olds
Functional Resume: Writing Guide, Examples, & Template
See how your resume stacks up.
Career Advice Newsletter
Our experts gather the best career & resume tips weekly. Delivered weekly, always free.
Thanks! Career advice is on its way.
Share this article:
Let's stay in touch.
Subscribe today to get job tips and career advice that will come in handy.
Your information is secure. Please read our privacy policy for more information.
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Writing in third person can be a simple task, with a little practice. For academic purposes, third person writing means that the writer must avoid using subjective pronouns like "I" or "you." For creative writing purposes, there are differences between third person omniscient, limited, objective, and episodically limited points of view. Choose which one fits your writing project.
The third-person narrative is often employed in narrative writing because it zooms in and out of character perspectives to describe actions, feelings, emotions, and thoughts. If you're unsure how to use the 3rd person perspective in writing, here are some tips and examples.
Academic writing is a fundamental part of any high school student's education, and mastering the art of writing in a clear and concise manner is essential to academic success. One key aspect of effective academic writing is the use of third-person language, which can help writers create a more objective and authoritative tone.
Define First, Second, & Third Person: Learn the definition of the three points of view in writing with examples. When do you use the first person narrative?
The main points of view are first person and third person, with second person appearing less frequently but still common enough that it gets studied in writing classes. These are also the terms used to distinguish the personal pronouns. The pronouns I and we are first-person pronouns; they refer to the self.
Writing in the third-person point of view involves narrating the story from an external perspective. Character names and their respective pronouns are used in such a narration. The narrator describes the events, feelings, and emotions without being on the scene to experience them. Also, the narrator describes the characters, or looks at them ...
So, while writing in the first person can be engaging, writing in the third person affords the author considerable freedoms. Read more about writing in the first person.
Third person point of view is when you are writing with third person pronouns (he, she, one, etc.) When you write an essay in third person, you do not refer to yourself in the essay, but instead use sources while writing.
Writing from third-person has benefits and pitfalls. This essay on the pros and cons of third person explains the common mistakes to avoid.
Fundamental Rules Of Writing A 3rd Person Argumentative Essay Are you in the process of creating a 3rd person argumentative essay, but are not sure what the fundamental rules of writing one are? By ensuring that you learn the correct way of approaching such a subject you'll be able to increase the quality of your grade greatly. Just take the time to find out what these rules are, and you ...
Im writing this draft of a college essay, with a new topic and idea, but I used third person, I'm not a fan at all of the third person when it comes to college essay but when I tried to change it to the first I felt as if it has lost whatever made it interesting to me.
Using the third-person or "it" constructions can be used to replace personal pronouns like "You" and "I.". Such words also help to reduce the word count of your essay and make it short and precise. For example, if you write "I conclude that, "replace those words with "it could be concluded that.
Where Else to use Transition Words in an Essay Transition words are important English devices for essays and papers. They enhance the transitions and connections between the sentences and paragraphs, giving your essay a flowing structure and logical thought.
College Essays. <p>I want to write my common app essay in third person, and then switch onto first. I just want to get a second, third, etc. opinion on this. (This is for the essay about failure)</p>. Once upon a time there was a girl who was so filled with emotion she had to find a medium to pour it all into.
One is third person omniscient, and the other is first person. But I would also like to suggest you that you can opt for third person, and utilising free indirect speech you can kind of blend your third person with the first person.
Convert academic essays from third-person to first-person to add a personal perspective. This tool is especially helpful for personal statements, reflective essays, and narrative essays, making your writing more authentic and impactful.
It Can Be Concluded. "It can be concluded" is a good replacement for "I think" and "I believe" in third-person writing. It emphasizes the conclusions you're drawing based on previously detailed evidence. Like "this suggests," "it can be concluded" comes after you present some evidence or ideas. It directly connects your ...
Third-person writing is when you avoid using personal pronouns and stick to possessive pronouns or possessive adjectives like "he," "she," "his," and "her" It all depends on your audience. You'd choose to write your short professional bio in the first person if you're using it for personal websites, social media profiles , and networking events.
Free Essays from Studymode | Analytical Paragraph Using third person, present tense, one sentence Marilyn please help thanks. 1. Write the topic sentence. Be...
Intro in 3rd Person. Introduction in 3rd person Megan Norton's Admittedly 3rd Person Biography Born and raised on the quiet streets of Findlay Ohio. Megan Norton is a daughter‚ a sister‚ a wife‚ a mother‚ and a student. Despite all of these there is not one that completely defines her. Free thinking and agnostic she believes that ...
Essay in Third Person Analytical Paragraph Using third person ‚ present tense‚ one sentence Marilyn please help thanks. 1. Write the topic sentence. Be sure it clearly expresses an arguable point of view. It must also mention the author and title of the work. Dream‚ Anger and Justification. A raisin in the sun 2.
Absolute Anonymity. 3rd Person Essays, History Topics To Write An Essay On, Esl Papers Ghostwriter Services Gb, Soal Essay Uts Sejarah Indonesia Kelas 11 Semester 1, Activity 2 Writing A Thesis Statement, Curriculum Vitae Project Manager Ejemplos, Typical College Essay Prmpt.
Using 3rd Person In Essays ... First, you have to sign up, and then follow a simple 10-minute order process. In case you have any trouble signing up or completing the order, reach out to our 24/7 support team and they will resolve your concerns effectively.
Essay in Third Person. Analytical Paragraph Using third person ‚ present tense‚ one sentence Marilyn please help thanks. 1. Write the topic sentence. Be sure it clearly expresses an arguable point of view. It must also mention the author and title of the work. Dream‚ Anger and Justification. A raisin in the sun 2.