First person uses the pronouns: I, we, my, mine and our. To switch to third person, replace these pronouns with third person pronouns. Simply refer to yourself by name and use he or she (or even it!). Robert has more than 30 years of experience in editorial, publishing and printing.

Second Person (in Grammar) The term “second person” refers to the speaker’s audience (i.e.,”you”). The personal pronouns (“I,” “you,” “he,” “she,” “it,” “we,” “they”) are grouped into one of three categories: Second person: “you” Third person: “He/She/It” and “They”

Avoid addressing readers as “you.” As with first-person pronouns, second-person pronouns can be replaced by words such as “one,” “the reader,” “readers,” and “the viewer.”

Replace the word “you” with “one.” While “one” effectively eliminates “you,” the word “one” also weakens papers much more than the word “you.” Not only is the word awkward to use but it also eliminates any emotional connection the writer may have with the reader.

Generally, it is best to avoid second person pronouns in scholarly writing because they remove the distance between the reader and the writer. Instead, try to use first or third person pronouns to enhance clarity.

Four ways to break the “you” habit include the following:

1. Use nouns instead.
2. Use indefinite pronouns (everyone, someone, anything) instead.
3. Cut the “you” out altogether.
4. Avoid giving commands (where “you” is the implied subject)

Third Person in Grammar The personal pronouns (“I,” “you,” “he,” “she,” “it,” “we,” “they”) are grouped into one of three categories: First person: “I” and “we” Second person: “you” Third person: “He/She/It” and “They”

Writing in third person is writing from the third-person point of view, or outsider looking in, and uses pronouns like he, she, it, or they. It differs from the first person, which uses pronouns such as I and me, and from the second person, which uses pronouns such as you and yours. Examples of Writing in Third Person.

If the text uses “I,” “we,” “me,” “us,” “my,” “mine,” or “ours” as pronouns, then you have a first-person point of view. If it uses “you,” “your,” or “yours” as pronouns, then you have a second-person point of view.

First-person pronouns. Examples: I, we, me, us, my, mine, our, and ours. refer to the writer. They include I, me, my, mine, our, ours, us, and we.

Some guidelines:

1. If you want to write the entire story in individual, quirky language, choose first person.
2. If you want your POV character to indulge in lengthy ruminations, choose first person.
3. If you want your reader to feel high identification with your POV character, choose first person or close third.

First person is not bad in itself, it’s just harder. Third person, you can stay omniscient and emotionally uninvolved and it can read OK. You can bounce toward third person limited a bit and it can work out. It won’t be great necessarily, but it doesn’t highlight those weaknesses in your writing as much.

First Person In this point of view, the readers experience the world vicariously through the narrator. The advantage of first person is that you can immediately connect with the reader. The disadvantage is that the author is limited to writing from one perspective.

List of Advantages of First Person Narration

• It is accessible.
• It will put readers inside the narrator’s mind.
• It is direct.
• It provides clear identity to the text.
• It makes it easier for the narrator to say whatever he wants.

A first-person narrator gives the reader a front row seat to the story. It also: Gives a story credibility. First-person point of view builds a rapport with readers by sharing a personal story directly with them.

If the first-person narrator lacks experience, he may misunderstand an action by another character. Since he can’t see into the minds of the other characters, he could misinterpret actions or make assumptions that aren’t true.

The third-person omniscient point of view is the most objective and trustworthy viewpoint because an all-knowing narrator is telling the story. This narrator usually has no biases or preferences and also has full knowledge of all the characters and situations.