How to Write in the Third Person

If you put in a little bit of practice, you should have no trouble using the third person when writing. For academic purposes, writing in the third person means that the writer must avoid using personal pronouns such as “I” or “you”. For the purposes of composition, there is a difference between the perspective of the transparent third person, the limited third person, the objective third person, and the segmentally limited third person. Choose whichever works best for your writing project.

Table of Contents

Written in the third person for academic purposes

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Use the third person for all academic writing. For formal writing such as research and debate, you should use the third person. The third person will make your writing more objective and less personal. With academic and professional writing, this sense of objectivity helps writers appear less biased, and therefore more trustworthy. ^{[1] X Research Source}

The third person will help the article maintain the focus on facts and evidence rather than personal opinions.

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Use the correct pronouns. The third person refers to “outsiders”. You can use names or use third person pronouns to write about someone.

Third person pronouns include: he, she, it, they.
The names of others are also considered for third person usage.
Example: “ Smith thinks otherwise. According to his research, previous statements on the matter are incorrect.”

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Avoid first person pronouns. The first person represents a point of view that the writer expresses from his or her personal point of view. This perspective makes the article too personal and conservative. You should avoid using the first person in academic essays. ^{[2] X Research Source}

First person pronouns include: I, we. ^{[3] X Research Sources}
The problem with using first person is that, with academic writing, first person seems too personal and subjective. In other words, it can be difficult to convince the reader that the views and opinions contained in the article are objective and not influenced by personal feelings. Usually, when using the first person in academic writing, people often use phrases such as “I think”, “I believe” or “follow me”.
False: “Although Smith believes so, I consider his argument to be incorrect.”
Right: “Although Smith believes so, other experts in the field disagree.”

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Avoid using second person pronouns. The second person points to a point of view aimed directly at the reader. This perspective shows too much resemblance to the reader because you are speaking to them as if you knew them. Second person should never be used in academic writing. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Second person pronouns include: you, you. ^{[5] X Research Sources}
A big problem with the second person is that it has a judgmental tone. It places too much responsibility on the shoulders of the reader of your work at that moment.
False: “If you still object to this day, you are ignorant of the truth.”
Right: “Those who still object to this day must be ignorant of the truth.”

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Mention the subject with a pronoun or a common noun. Sometimes, writers need to refer to a person with unspecified words. In other words, they may need to talk in general or about someone. This is when writers are often tempted to use the second person. An indefinite third person noun or pronoun would be appropriate in this case.

Indefinite third person nouns commonly used in academic writing include: writer, reader, individuals, student, a student, a coach, people, a person, a person women, a man, a child, researchers, scientists, writers, experts.
Example: “Despite objections, the researchers persisted with their claims.”
Indefinite third person pronouns include: one person, anyone, one, everyone, no one, another person, each person, both, someone, everything.
False: “You can be convinced without all the facts.”
Right: “ One can be convinced in the absence of all the facts.”

Write in the third person fluently

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Shift focus from one character to another. When using a clear third person perspective, the role of the narrator is transferred from one person to another instead of just following a character’s thoughts, actions, and words. The narrator knows everything about each character and setting and can reveal or withhold any thought, feeling, or action.

For example, a story might include four characters: William, Bob, Erika, and Samantha. The thoughts and actions of each character need to be portrayed from many different perspectives throughout the story. Thoughts can be expressed in the same chapter or paragraph.
Example: “William thinks Erika is lying, but he still wants to believe that she did it for a good reason. Samantha also believes Erika is lying, but she feels jealous because Tony thinks well of other girls.”
Third-person writers should avoid shifting characters’ perspectives abruptly during a scene. Technically this doesn’t violate the principle of third person transparency, but it is often seen as lazy narration.

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Disclose any information you want. With a transparent third-person perspective, the narrator is not limited to the inner thoughts and feelings of the character. Along with the character’s inner feelings and thoughts, a clear third-person perspective also allows the author to reveal details about the future or the past in the story. The narrator can also give opinions, moral views or discuss animals and natural landscapes where the characters are not present. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

In a way, the transparent third person can be considered a “god” in the story. The author can observe the outer actions of any character at any time, but unlike the limited observer, the author can also peek inside the character’s interior at will.
Know when to hide information. While the author can divulge any information at will, it is often more beneficial when the details are revealed gradually. For example, if a character needs to be surrounded by a fog of mystery, it’s smart to limit the character’s emotional description for a while before revealing their motives.

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Avoid using first and second person pronouns. First person pronouns like “I” and “we” should only appear in conversations. The same goes for second person pronouns.

Do not use first- and second-person perspectives in narratives or descriptions.
Right: Bob said to Erika, “I find this a little scary. How do you feel?”
Sai: I think this is scary, and so do Bobb and Erika. How do you think?

Limited third person writing

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Choose a character throughout. When writing from a limited third-person perspective, the writer has complete access to a character’s actions, thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. The author can act as if the character is thinking and reacting, or he can be restrained and express himself more objectively. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

The thoughts and feelings of the other characters remain unknown throughout the story. There’s also no shift in perspective between the characters in this particular narration.
Unlike first person writing in which the narrator is also the main character, the limited third person creates a marked distance between the main character and the narrator. The writer can choose to describe a bad habit of the main character – something the protagonist would not be willing to reveal if they were also the narrator.

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Describe the character’s actions and thoughts from an outside perspective. Although the focus is still on a character, the writer still needs to describe the character as an independent entity. The narrator still has to use the third person when following the character’s thoughts, feelings, and inner dialogue. ^{[9] X Research Source}

In other words, you won’t use first-person pronouns like “I,” “we,” except in dialogue. The writer understands the main character’s thoughts and feelings, but that character should not play the role of the narrator.
Right: “Tiffany feels terrible after her fight with her boyfriend.”
Right: “Tiffany thought, ‘I feel terrible after the fight with him.
Wrong: “I feel terrible after arguing with my boyfriend.”

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Focus on actions and words instead of describing other characters’ thoughts and feelings. With this perspective, the writer is limited in the main character’s thoughts and feelings. However, other characters may be described outside of the protagonist’s understanding. The narrator can do everything the main character can, just not get into the minds of other characters. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Note that the author may make assumptions or conjectures about other characters’ thoughts, but these conjectures must be expressed through the protagonist’s point of view.
Right: “Tiffany felt terrible, but by the look on Carl’s face she knew he was too, maybe worse.”
Sai: “Tiffany feels terrible. But what you don’t know is that Carl feels worse.”

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Do not reveal any information that the protagonist does not know. Although the narrator can step back and describe the setting or other characters, it all has to be from that character’s point of view. Don’t jump from character to character in just one scene. The external actions of other characters can only be known when the protagonist is present to witness them.

Right: “Tiffany looked out the window and saw Carl approach her house and ring the doorbell.”
Sai: “As soon as Tiffany left the room, Carl breathed a sigh of relief.”

Writing in the third person is limited to paragraphs

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Switch from one character to another. With the limited third person, the author can have multiple main characters whose thoughts and views are presented in turn. You can stand at each angle to reveal important information and move the story forward. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Limit the number of narrator characters. You shouldn’t have too many characters that confuse the reader or serve no purpose. Each narrator should have a specific purpose through a particular point of view. Ask yourself what each narrator contributes to the story.
For example, in a romance with two main characters Kevin and Felicia the author might describe the thoughts of both characters at different points in the story.
One character may get more attention than another, but all the main protagonists need to be noticed at some point in the story.

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Just focus on one character’s thoughts and perspective at a time. Although the entire story can include multiple perspectives, the writer should focus only on each character in turn.

Different perspectives should not appear at the same time in a narrative space. Only when one character’s perspective ends can another character’s perspective begin. The two perspectives of two characters should not be mixed in the same space.
Sai: “Kevin was captivated by Felicia from the first moment he met her. On the contrary, Felicia found it difficult to trust Kevin.”

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Try to create smooth transitions. While the author can switch back and forth between the different characters’ perspectives, arbitrary switching can make the story confusing. ^{[12] X Research Source}

In a work about the length of a novel, the right time to change perspective is at the beginning of a new chapter or chapter break.
The writer should also identify the narrator at the beginning of the paragraph, preferably the first sentence. Otherwise, the reader may tire of guessing.
Right: “Felicia doesn’t want to admit it, but the bouquet of roses Kevin left on her doorstep was a lovely surprise.”
False: “The bouquet of roses left on the doorstep seems like a lovely gesture.”

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Determine who knows what. Even if the reader can get information from multiple characters’ perspectives, the characters do not have the same approach. Some characters have no way of knowing what other characters know.

For example, if Kevin was talking to Felicia’s best friend to ask how she felt about him, Felicia wouldn’t know what the two of them were saying to each other, unless she witnessed the conversation, or heard Kevin or her friend recount it. .

Write in the third person objectively

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Describe the actions of many characters. Using the objective third person, the writer can describe the actions and words of any character at any time and include them in the story.

It is not necessary here to focus on one main character. The writer can switch between characters, following different characters throughout the story as needed.
However, you need to avoid first person pronouns like “I” and second person pronouns like “you” in the story. Only use first and second person in dialogue.

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Don’t try to get into the character’s mind. Unlike in the transparent third-person perspective, in which the narrator creeps into everyone’s mind, the objective perspective doesn’t enter anyone’s mind.

Imagine that you are an invisible passerby observing the actions and dialogues of the characters in the story. You’re not a know-it-all, so you don’t have access to any character’s inner thoughts and feelings. You can only describe the character’s actions.
Right: “At the end of class, Graham hurriedly left the classroom and went to his dorm room.”
Wrong: “At the end of class, Graham rushed out of the classroom and hurried back to his dorm room. The lecture made me so angry that I thought I could scream at anyone I met on the street.”

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Describe instead of explain. Although it is not possible to share a character’s inner thoughts, an objective third person writer can describe external observations that reveal inner thoughts. Please describe what is going on. Instead of telling the reader that the character is angry, describe his facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice to show he is angry.

Right: “When no one else was looking, Isabelle burst into tears.”
False: “Pride doesn’t allow Isabelle to cry in front of others, but she feels like her heart is broken and she bursts into tears when she’s alone.”

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Avoid including your own thoughts in the story. The writer’s purpose in using the objective third person is to act as a narrator, not a commentator.

Let the reader draw their own conclusions. Describe your character’s actions without analyzing or explaining how to understand the actions.
Right: “Ypanda looked over her shoulder three times before sitting down.”
Sai: “This may seem odd, but Ypanda glanced over her shoulder three times before sitting down. This unconscious habit is a sign of paranoia in her mind.”

Steps

Written in the third person for academic purposes

Write in the third person fluently

Limited third person writing

Writing in the third person is limited to paragraphs

Write in the third person objectively

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