Whether or not first person personal pronouns (such as I, we, etc.) have a place in academic writing has been a topic of confusion for a long time now. In fact, many university students have a preconceived notion that they must avoid the use of such pronouns at all costs in essays and research papers.
While it is true that their use is largely discouraged in academia, first person pronouns, when used sparingly, can be helpful depending on the discipline, type of writing, and context. The I/we perspective has the potential to add significant clarity to any piece of writing while also allowing writers to explain their research without any confusion.
Usage Across Disciplines
First person pronoun use is more acceptable in some disciplines than others. Researchers of the sciences, for one, have always avoided their use because of the need for complete objectivity while writing papers. Being objective helps scientific researchers convince readers and also emphasize the topic of research appropriately. And since first person pronouns tend to obstruct that approach, scientific researchers avoid using such pronouns in most cases.
Social science researchers also mostly avoid the use of first person pronouns for the same reasons. However, they do occasionally use the pronouns where appropriate, like in papers that require them to provide their own points of view on a subject.
Humanities researchers, in comparison, tend to use first person pronouns more frequently as they are often required to analyze ideas, books, poetry, etc. and provide their opinions on the same. That said, overusing these pronouns by beginning sentences with “I believe…” or “I think…” is not preferred even in the Humanities as such phrases do not work to strengthen an argument in any way. And much like in the case of other disciplines, researchers of the Humanities too must substantiate their claims or arguments with suitable evidence and illustrations to convince readers sufficiently.
Over time though, the occasional use of these pronouns in academic writing has become more acceptable – especially in the sciences. This is because the excessive adoption of passive voice in academic writing often leads to ambiguity and can be avoided by selectively using first person pronouns.
An important rule of thumb to keep in mind is that no matter what the discipline, students must always consult their instructor and review course guidelines for information on the use of first person pronouns before they begin writing.
When to Use First Person Pronouns in Academic Writing
The APA Publication Manual suggests using first person pronouns in academic writing for the following purposes:
1. To steer clear of ambiguity
EXAMPLE
Incorrect: John and James (1998) argued that there is no link between disrupted sleep and eating habits. The authors conducted multiple trials to substantiate this argument.
“Authors” in the above example refers to the authors of the research paper, not John and James. However, using the word just to ensure objectivity (as shown above) can lead to confusion among readers. It is better to use the first person pronoun “we” instead for clarity in such instances.
Correct: John and James (1998) argued that there is no link between disrupted sleep and eating habits. We conducted multiple trials to substantiate this argument.
2. To avoid anthropomorphism – assigning human traits to other living beings or inanimate entities
EXAMPLE
Incorrect: This experiment interpreted the findings of past research.
According to the APA Manual, “an experiment cannot attempt to demonstrate, control unwanted variables, or interpret findings, nor can tables or figures compare (all of these can, however, show or indicate).”
Thus, using a first person pronoun (I/we) to indicate that the author(s) of the paper interpreted the findings (as shown below) is more appropriate and can prevent anthropomorphism.
Correct: I/We interpreted the findings of past research.
3. To only refer to the author(s) of a paper and not in the capacity of the editorial we
The editorial we – the usage of “we” by newspapers while presenting the point of view of the entire publication – is also best avoided while writing academic papers.
Writers must use “we” only while referring to themselves and their coauthors (“I” in the case of a single author) in a paper. Using I/we for any other purpose might confuse readers about whom it refers to.
EXAMPLE
Incorrect: We often group disorders related to erratic food consumption under eating disorders.
In the above sentence, it is unclear whether “we” refers to the authors of the paper being discussed, researchers as a community, society as a whole, or any other group. In such cases, it’s a good idea to replace the first person pronoun with a suitable noun as shown below.
Correct: Psychologists often group disorders related to erratic food consumption under eating disorders.
Other Uses of First Person Pronouns in Academic Writing
Here are some additional instances where first person pronoun use is acceptable in academic writing:
- Using first person pronouns is always acceptable in statements of purpose and personal statements since these require writers to talk about themselves and their interest in a particular course and university.
- Personal narrative essays and reflective essays also require the use of first person pronouns as the writer is expected to recount a personal experience.
- Writing stories and opinion pieces with first person pronouns can have a powerful impact on the reader. However, students must verify if their instructor/university has any exclusive guidelines for first person use in such writing.
- Beginning an academic essay with a first-person anecdote can work well to draw readers’ attention to the essay. This is, of course, appropriate mostly in the above mentioned types of writing. It is also occasionally acceptable in pieces where the writer has already introduced the topic with appropriate evidence and provided an objective take on it. That said, following evidence up with a personal experience works well and is acceptable usually when the writer has considerable authority in the subject being discussed.
- First person pronouns may also be used at the end of the introduction or while presenting the results of a paper if allowed by the instructor and university guidelines.
Additional Tips for Writing with First Person Pronouns
- Students must always consider the potential readers and the message they intend to convey before deciding if first person pronoun use is appropriate for a particular paper.
- It is never ideal to begin a thesis with I. Rather than conveying a personal opinion (unless an essay explicitly requires the writer to do so), a thesis must be presented objectively (using third person pronouns) and then supported with suitable factual evidence.
- First person pronouns must be avoided if using them in a paper or essay has the potential to indicate personal biases (especially in the case of controversial topics).
Students would do well to use first person pronouns in academic writing only where their use is permitted. If they are unsure about whether the usage is allowed, they ought to consult their instructors or course guidelines.
