Formal writing requires following patterns, sometimes uncommon for the everyday communication or fiction literature style. When composing an academic paper, one wants to rely on facts, check plagiarism, cite the sources, and sound objective and neutral. It is best to avoid personal opinions in essays to achieve the latter, making the work more generalized and persuasive. How can one omit first and second person pronouns so the text still sounds natural?
What are first and second-person pronouns
First-person pronouns I, we, me, us, my, mine, our, and ours present the story from the narrator’s perspective.
I chose the research topic because it sounded relevant to my favorite subject.
We conducted an experiment to confirm or disprove our theory.
Second-person pronouns, you and your, are used to address the reader.
This article will teach you how to avoid second-person pronouns in your writing.
Why first and second-person pronouns are not recommended for academic writing
“I,” “we,” “you,” and similar pronouns shift the perspective from the subject itself to the individual, emphasizing the author of the paper or the action described in the text. It is appropriate for fiction or everyday speech but doesn’t suit academic papers, where the focus should be on the research topic. Moreover, a personal point of view makes the information sound subjective and less trustworthy, while academic writing aims to make the opposite impression. Hence, one should choose the wording carefully and omit using a first-person perspective in formal texts.
Ways to replace first and second-person pronouns in formal paper
Here are some strategies to make the paper sound more formal and professional.
Focus on the writing
Shift the perspective from the narrator to the work.
Compare:
I discovered that… – The research states that…
We believe that… – The experiments confirm that…
Address the facts
Instead of framing the information with personal opinion, double-check the facts and let them speak for themselves.
Compare:
I chose the topic as I believe the polar bear extinction is a burning issue… – Global polar bear numbers are projected to decline by 30% by 2050.
You can also refer to the authoritative source: According to the World Wild Fund prognosis, the global polar bear numbers are projected to decline by 30% by 2050.
Change into passive voice
In fiction, marketing, and personal communication, the active voice sounds more energetic and expressive, while the neutrality of the passive voice suits formal writing.
Compare:
I conducted a survey in 2023… – The survey was conducted in 2023…
We surveyed 1000 respondents and got the statistics… – From 1000 respondents surveyed in 2023, …
Specify the source and the audience
Be specific and name the objects or people instead of using pronouns.
Compare:
From the article, you will learn how… – The article tells the reader how…/The article describes how…
We describe the process in the paper published in 2018. – The paper published in 2018 gives the details on…/Dr. Jackson and Dr. Mark refer to the fact in the paper published in 2018…
Essay writing is challenging, so it is natural to look for some extra help. However, asking an AI chatbot to do the job is not a solution: it violates academic integrity, doesn’t help you to learn anything, and entails repercussions once the teacher’s AI checker detects cheating. Instead, you can look into AI tools that accelerate the writing process without breaking the rules–and even help you to elevate your skills!
Paperpal for a one-stop solution
Paperpal can assist with academic grammar, adjust your style, improve the clarity of writing, and help with correct citations. It will take into account the specifics of the subject you are working on, and can also check your paper for plagiarism once it’s ready. Paperpal includes an essay grader service that allows you to check and improve your writing before submitting. The toolkit can be integrated into your workflow on Google Docs, MS Word, and other platforms. All in all, Paperpal is designed to accompany you through the whole writing process from word choice to pre-submission review.
SciSpace for research papers
SciSpace is created for research tasks. It will help to compose a draft of a scientific publication, perform a potent search to check whether the idea is unique, systematize and summarize information, and generate visual content illustrating your research. SciSpace will also find relevant sources of information for your topic and assist with correct attribution.
Elicit for streamlining analysis
Elicit will make your research process a breeze–or lightning, as it takes moments. You choose the topic, and the tool provides data by analyzing hundreds of academic papers and extracting relevant information. It will also help with proper attribution. Elicit is designed to accelerate the time-consuming preparatory part–the writing you do, the conclusions you draw, and the discoveries you make are all yours!
QuillBot for better writing
QuillBot is an assistant that accompanies your writing process. The tool will ensure your paper is tone-appropriate and mistake-free, helping you to paraphrase and summarize information and check it for originality and authenticity. QuillBot provides you with browser extensions for seamless integration into your writing routines. Designed for writers and businesses, the tool is also helpful with academic tasks.
ProWritingAid for overcoming writer’s block
ProWritingAid is made for writers. It helps to adjust your style, increase readability, and improve the text structure for stronger results. ProWritingAid will help overcome blank page block and analyse your text. The tool will provide feedback so you can edit and polish your writing before submitting. The platform might not be the best choice for the scientific field, but it will be a reliable ally in any fiction-related essay crafting and storytelling.
PlagiarismCheck.org is your one-stop resource for all matters related to academic writing! Try our plagiarism and Chat GPT detector, stay mistakes-free, and get more professional writing tips in our blog. Join us now!
