This document provides guidance on avoiding first person writing in academic works. It discusses using third person point of view rather than first person "I" and offers alternatives like referring to yourself in the third person or using passive voice. While first person has been traditionally avoided, some academics now allow its use. The document offers examples of rewriting sentences from first to third person and cites additional resources on the topic.

1. Dr. Andree C. Swanson
Copyright @ 2011 - 2013

2. It's not easy, however, when you try to find your academic voice, you will
take you out of the picture.
Here are some websites that will
help you with this:
 Point of View and Voice
 http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource
/560/15/
 How to Avoid Writing in First Person
 http://elearning.homestead.com/first_perso
n_writing.htm

3. “It is important to note that
while the avoidance of "I"
has long been part of the
academic tradition, these
days some academics
consider its use to be
acceptable. So, you may
encounter different views
about the use of "I" over the
course of your degree.”
(Monash University, 2007)

4.  One way is to let the
assignment "speak for itself“:
 For example…
 "Idemonstrated a lack of
understanding on the topic
of proper academic
writing."
 Could be written as…
 “A lack of understanding
on the topic created an
error in the
presentation.”
 For example…
 “I interpreted the results
to mean a = b”
 Could be written as…
 “Swanson and Crites
(2011) stated that a = b.”
Note:
Use the authors’ names when
you are discussing a study or
research that was conducted by
someone else.
(Monash University, 2007)

5. Instead of Write
"We administered the
questionnaire..."
(active voice)
"The questionnaire was
administered..."
(passive voice)
"I surveyed the literature"
(active voice)
"The literature was surveyed"
(passive voice)
"I took a sample..."
(active voice)
"A sample was taken"
(passive voice)
Yes… you should avoid passive voice most of the time, however, sometimes,
especially when avoiding writing in first person, it is acceptable.
Another way to avoid the first person is to use the passive
voice construction:
(Monash University, 2007)

6.  Bowman, L. (2003). How to avoid writing in
first person. Retrieved from
http://elearning.homestead.com/first_perso
n_writing.htm
 Monash University. (2007). Avoiding the
personal pronoun “I”. Retrieved from
http://www.monash.edu.au/lls/llonline/writ
ing/arts/sociology/2.3.1.xml
 Purdue University. (1995-2011). Point of view
and voice. Retrieved from
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource
/560/15/