The English language uses three different types of "persons" in speaking and writing, and they are known as first-, second-, and third-person. While poetry doesn't require a specific point of view and fiction can be written well in either first- or third-person, academic writing is usually best written in third person. What is the difference between the three, and does that explain why one is better than another in different situations? What is First-Person Point-of-View? First-person point-of-view is best remembered as coming from the first person anyone is closest to: himself. When writing from the first-person perspective, the writer will most often use the pronouns "I," "we," "me," and "us." He is writing from within himself, from the perspective of his own eyes and his own experience. First-person writing tends to usually be more personal. It is usually frowned upon for academic writing because it doesn't always allow the writer to be objective. However, there are limited occasions when first-person writing is okay for academic papers, but that is not the norm. Most often, first person is employed in creative writing. Poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction are sometimes written in first person, giving the reader a feeling of being in the writer's head. This perspective frequently allows readers to "relate" more personally to the narrator or speaker. Here are some examples written in first person: I drove to the store. We drove to the store. I really liked that movie. We all had such a good time. It was good for me to get out. I think that book should have been revised one more time. I couldn't understand it. In fact, there were several of us who struggled through the last five chapters. What is Second-Person Point-of-View? Second-person point-of-view is rarely used in writing. It's not used in academic writing because it lacks a professional tone, but it's also difficult to write in second person creatively. When a person writes from the second-person perspective, she will mostly use the pronoun "you." Second person is often used for "how-to" articles and books. These examples are written in second person: You drove to the store. All of you drove to the store. You walk through the door. You see three large paintings hanging from the walls, so you step forward to examine them more closely. You decided to skip the dance. "It stinks anyway," you thought. Before using, turn the coffee maker on by depressing the black button. Rinse the carafe. First-person perspective can sometimes be misidentified as second person if the writer is "speaking to" the reader. These examples are actually first person but addressed to someone else, making them seem like second person: You drove to the store and saw the lipstick I told you about. Now you know why I like it. You know what I mean! You would love that class. It was fun and challenging, and that's what I enjoyed. Well, that and all the cool people. One or two sentences taken out of context can make it confusing to identify the perspective, but readers should look for the dominating point-of-view to make the determination. What is Third-Person Point-of-View? Third-person point-of-view is the preferred choice not only for academic writing but also for some other forms of non-fiction, such as newspaper, magazine, and journal writing. Why is third person the perspective of choice? Because it allows for some distance between the writer and his words; his writing appears more authoritative and less subjective. Pronouns used for third person are varied; "they," "them," "it," "he," and "she" are common pronouns used in this type of writing. Third person is employed in both academic and creative writing. Here are some examples of both: He drove to the store. They drove to the store. It's a matter of what one holds dear. Specifically, he looks at the advent of Christianity. Most people would understand what the author means when she describes the scene. She took a deep breath. Different Writing Situations Call for Different Points of View While it might seem confusing at first, there's not much to learning the different perspectives. And once a writer understands the differences, it's usually clear why one perspective is better for a type of writing than another. Third person is most often used for academic and professional writing, while first person is usually used with more personal writing (including creative types of writing), and second person just isn't used much. However, each point-of-view has its place, and it's best to know when one begins a writing project.
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