Point of View

First Person

What it means: we are seeing the world through your eyes.

Examples: I, we, ours, mine.

Use it when...

You are relating your own relevant lived experiences.

Your professor requires it on an assignment.

Example: "When working as a nurse practitioner, my experience with this topic was..."

Avoid it when...

You're introducing, analyzing, and discussing quotes and sources in academic writing OR your professor simply tells you to.

Example: Adam Bauman's work “Consumerism versus Consumption", states that that instant gratification and constant consumption does not make people happy, so we should abandon consumerism. I think he's wrong because there are still good sides to consumerism that I see.

Easy fix: state ideas through other credible sources. Adam Bauman's work “Consumerism versus Consumption", states that that instant gratification and constant consumption does not make people happy, so Americans should abandon consumerism. However, Gardner et all argue that consumerism leads to innovation, which has an overall net benefit to society.

Second person

What it means: the writer is speaking directly to the reader, sometimes narrating their feelings, thoughts, and actions.

Examples: You, yours.

Use it when...

You are directly asking the reader a question.

Example: Where were you the day the twin towers fell?

Your professor requires it on an assignment.

Avoid it when...

You are writing persuasive and argumentative pieces. This can feel like you're pointing the finger at your reader. It's also a little vague, as it doesn't help the reader know who you are trying to persuade. For example, if you were arguing that two-year college degrees should be free in Colorado, which example makes more sense?

Example 1: You should consider the benefits of free community college education. (This could also be written as: "consider the benefits..." and would still be considered second-person).

Example 2: The Colorado Community College System should consider the benefits of free community college education.

The second version is more specific, and therefore more useful in directing your argument. And anyways, the person reading your paper automatically considers what you're saying, so there's no need to use "you".

Third person

What it means: we are seeing the world through someone else's eyes. You, as the author, are observing other speakers, then reporting to us.

Examples: he, she, they.

Use it when...

You can use this in all cases of academic writing. You will need to use it to ascribe quotes to authors.

Example: In Adam Bauman's work “Consumerism versus Consumption", he states that that instant gratification and constant consumption does not make people happy, so Americans should abandon consumerism. However, Gardner et al. argue that consumerism leads to innovation, which they agree has an overall net benefit to society.