Is First-Person Language acceptable in Academic and Technical Writing

In academic and technical writing, the writer’s point of view is very important in communicating or delivering the content to the reader.

The point of view can be regarded as the perspective from which the paper is written and it can take the form of the first person, second person, or third person. 

In this article, we will discuss the use of the first-person perspective in academic and technical writing. For those of us who may not be familiar with what first-person language/perspective is, take a look at the table below indicating personal pronouns and their possessive forms:

Now that this is clear, let us proceed to explore the use of the first person in academic and technical writing. 

Is First-Person acceptable in Academic Writing?

From a historical perspective concerning academic writing, the use of first-person or “I” has brought a lot of controversies. On one hand, some claim that the use of first-person makes academic writing sound subjective because it makes the writing sound like a personal narrative or own experiences.

On the other hand, others believe that the use of the first-person is important because it makes the written work appear accurate. 

First-person language is acceptable in academic writing when presenting personal opinions, writing narratives or when adding a personalized experience or an idea to an essay. While most pieces of academic writing use the third-person language, first-person is considered acceptable when instructions and contents do not favor reported speech but personal stories.

While this is the case, most college-level academic or technical writing requires minimal usage of the first-person perspective.

Students are required to use the first-person sparingly or even avoid its use completely because the consensus within the academic world, or at least the majority, perceives the use of the first person to produce subjective work. 

One major reason why college-level or university-level writing discourages the use of first-person is that the students are not yet field researchers who are capable of providing academically sound and viable opinions concerning issues or events.

Such students will often rely on other peer-reviewed or scholarly works to justify their perspectives and arguments concerning their topics. 

If students use first-person in such arguments, it means that they are giving their perspectives instead of using peer-reviewed sources.

Postgraduate researchers can use first-person because they are presenting their personal views after conducting primary research. 

However, there are some specific rhetorical situations whereby students can use first-person in academic writing. This will be discussed in the following section. 

Instances First-Person English is Used in Academic Writing

As we have noted, students are often discouraged from using first-person language in their academic works because it results in subjectivity. However, there are some rhetorical instances where they can use first-person. 

Before we explore those situations, it is important to understand the background of such rhetorical situations. The following questions can help you know when to use the first person in your academic papers:

1. Are my personal opinions on the topic or subject significantly influence my approach to the specific subject or topic?
2. Is it right to recognize my input or investment on the subject or topic?
3. Am I naturally inclined to phrase some sentences from a first-person perspective?
4. Is my personal experience give relevant or strong support for the arguments presented in my paper?

With those questions, you can easily decide when it is right to use first-person language. That being noted, the following three rhetorical situations will specifically provide you with the knowledge on when to specifically use first-person instead of third-person perspectives. 

1. When students or academics are giving their personal view

When students or academics are offering their views concerning a topic, they become intellectually accountable and honest.

In both cultural and academic instances, taking responsibility and being honest about what you have said or done is important and often commendable.

The field of academics can be considered a “participatory democracy” where individuals are required to be accountable for their choices and ideas. 

Therefore, students can use the first-person perspective when providing their personal views concerning topics or subjects; especially when they have conducted primary research and have collected data using appropriate scientific methodologies. 

2. When the perspective of the author/student is part of the analysis

Some particular disciplines like anthropology agree that individuals conducting research should be represented in their works. Because of this, such disciplines recognize the use of first-person pronouns in academic works.

By removing the presence of the author from the analysis, it means that critical perspectives on culture, society, and so on will not be explained.

This results in a loss of interpretation because the author is absent from the text. This is a good way because it can be used to lengthen your writing and make an essay longer by adding more information.

3. When showing the author’s reasoning

Students can use the first person when they desire to demonstrate the reasoning behind their inferences, arguments, and/or conclusions.

Students can use phrases like “I strongly believe…” or “I am not convinced…” However, when using such phrases, students must provide the reasoning behind their perspectives using objective reasoning. 

Types of Writing that Use 3rd Person Language Only

For those of us who are not familiar with the 3rd person language, the table below summarizes its pronouns and possessive forms:

3rd person language eliminates subjectivity in your written works hence creating some form of authority in the arguments presented.

It makes the reader know that whatever you are explaining is credible because it has been adequately researched. 3rd person language separates objective writing from personal narratives. 

Therefore, the types of writings that use 3rd person only include academic essays, research papers, dissertations, and most academic works.

This si because the work should be presented in a neutral way that does not influence the perspectives of the reader. 

How to Use First-Person Language in Essay Writing

First-person language is used to write narratives/stories or provide examples concerning personal experiences. It is used to illustrate points to make them understandable to the reader. The use of personal experiences can enhance such understanding. 

First-person language can also be used when the student/author/writer is proving personal views especially when they have conducted the primary research. For example, you can use I in your essay if needed.

The language can also be used when the student’s perspective is part of the analysis and also when they want to demonstrate the reasoning behind their arguments and conclusions. 

Therefore, what we can conclude is that academic and technical writing requires third-person language. However, first-person language can also be used; but sparingly under specific rhetorical situations.