First-Person Pronouns

Pronouns are words that take the place of nouns in a sentence, and they play a crucial role in clear and concise communication. Among the various types of personal pronouns, including second- and third-person pronouns, first-person pronouns hold a unique position as they refer directly to the speaker or writer. In the English language, first-person pronouns are essential for expressing personal experiences, thoughts, and opinions. 

English first-person pronouns

In English, there are four main categories of first-person pronouns: subject pronouns, object pronouns, possessive pronouns, and reflexive pronouns. Each category serves a specific grammatical function and varies based on whether it is singular (referring to one person) or plural (referring to more than one person).

Type	Singular	Plural
Subject Pronoun	I	We
Object Pronoun	Me	Us
Possessive Pronoun	Mine	Ours
Reflexive Pronoun	Myself	Ourselves

First-person subject pronouns (“I” and “we”)

The first-person subject pronouns “I” and “we” are used as the subjects of verbs, indicating the one(s) performing the action described by the verb.

The singular form “I” refers to the individual speaker or writer personally carrying out the verb’s action. It is always capitalized, unlike other pronouns.

The plural form “we” refers to the speaker/writer along with one or more other people collectively performing the verb’s action as a group.

Subjects typically appear at the beginning of a sentence immediately before the verb. As the “doers” of the verb, first-person subject pronouns name who or what is responsible for that verb’s action.

Examples: First-person subject pronouns

• I am a student at the university.
• We have been working on this project for months.
• I will present the findings at the conference.

First-person object pronouns (“me” and “us”)

The first-person object pronouns “me” and “us” are used when the speaker/writer is the recipient of a verb’s action. They function as either the direct or indirect object in a sentence.

The singular form “me” indicates that the individual speaker/writer alone is the object receiving the action described by the verb.

The plural form “us” indicates that the speaker/writer plus one or more others collectively are the objects receiving the verb’s action as a group.

A direct object refers to who or what is directly acted upon by the verb. 

For example:

• The professor advised me to apply for that internship. (Me is the direct object advised)
• They encouraged us to participate in the study. (Us is the direct object encouraged)

An indirect object refers to who or what benefits from the verb’s action, often involving the concept of “to” or “for”. 

For example:

• My colleague gave me some helpful feedback. (Me is the indirect object benefiting)
• The organizers provided us with transportation. (Us is the indirect object provided for)

Object pronouns also follow prepositions, describing the object of that preposition’s relation. 

For example:

• Please send the file to me when you’re done. (Me is the object of the preposition “to”)
• The invitation is addressed to us as presenters. (Us is the object of the preposition “to”)

So “me” and “us” identify the individual or individual-plus-others respectively as the recipient(s) of the verb’s action in the sentence.

Examples: First-person object pronouns

• The professor gave an extension to me.
• The team invited us to join their meeting.
• Please send the report to me and us.

First-person possessive pronouns (“mine” and “ours”)

The first-person possessive pronouns “mine” and “ours” are used to indicate ownership or possession by the speaker/writer.

The singular form “mine” denotes sole ownership by the individual speaker/writer.

The plural form “ours” denotes collective ownership by the speaker/writer and one or more others as a group.

These possessive pronouns function independently without modifying a noun, in contrast to the possessive determiners “my” and “our” which must modify a following noun (e.g. “my book”, “our research”).

Possessive pronouns can replace a fuller noun phrase to avoid repetition. 

For example:

• This is my proposal, but that one over there is mine. (“mine” replaces “my proposal”)
• We contributed our ideas, but the final plan is ours. (“ours” replaces “our plan”)

They can also stand alone as a pronoun without a modified noun:

• Which laptop is mine? I can’t find it. (“mine” refers to the speaker’s laptop)
• The responsibility for this project is ours. (“ours” refers to the group’s responsibility)

So “mine” and “ours” are useful for explicitly indicating whether ownership/possession belongs to the singular speaker/writer or includes others in a collective sense when a noun does not need to be repeated.

Examples: First-person possessive pronouns

• This book is mine, please return it.
• The responsibility is ours to complete the task.
• Those ideas are mine, not ours.

First-person reflexive pronouns (“myself” and “ourselves”)

The first-person reflexive pronouns “myself” and “ourselves” are used when the subject and object of a sentence refer to the same person(s).

The singular form “myself” reflects back on the individual speaker/writer as both the “doer” and recipient of the verb’s action.

The plural form “ourselves” reflects back on the speaker/writer plus one or more others collectively as the “doers” and recipients of the verb’s action within their group.

These reflexive pronouns are necessary when the object is the same entity as the subject in order to link the action back to the original actor(s). 

For example:

• I asked myself why I procrastinated. (I is both asking and being asked)
• We reminded ourselves to submit the report on time. (We reminded our own group)

Reflexive pronouns often occur with inherently reflexive verbs like “ask”, “remind”, “introduce”, where the action rebounds back on the subject.

Reflexive pronouns can also function as intensive pronouns to place extra emphasis on the subject performing the action, even if not strictly reflexive:

• I myself completed the analysis. (Emphasizing I did it)
• We ourselves installed the new software. (Emphasizing we did it)

So “myself” and “ourselves” are used to reflect an action back onto the subject individual or subject group respectively, whether strictly reflexive or for intensive emphasis.

Examples: First-person reflexive pronouns

• I bought myself a new laptop.
• We reminded ourselves to prepare for the presentation.
• I will do it myself if needed.

First-person pronouns in academic writing

The use of first-person pronouns in academic writing has been a topic of debate among scholars and educators. While some argue that academic writing should remain objective and impersonal, others believe that judicious use of first-person pronouns can enhance clarity and ownership of ideas. Some style guides, like APA, now require first-person pronouns when describing the researcher’s own processes, actions, and perspectives.

Avoiding first-person pronouns

While first-person pronouns are widely accepted in many contexts, some styles of writing aim to avoid their use. Three common techniques can help eliminate first-person pronouns and maintain an impersonal, objective tone:

• Use third-person pronouns (it, they, one) or nodrop the pronoun entirely: Instead of “I analyzed the data”, write “The data were analyzed.”
• Convert sentences to the passive voice: Rather than “We conducted the experiment”, use “The experiment was conducted.”
• Use a different subject: Replace “My findings suggest…” with “The findings suggest…”

Consistently applying one of these strategies can remove first-person perspective from a piece of writing when an impersonal, detached style is required or preferred stylistically. However, excessive use of passive voice or pronoun omission can diminish clarity.

First-person sentence	Technique	Revised sentence
I analyzed the data.	Use the third person	The researcher analyzed the data.
We conducted the experiment.	Use the passive voice	The experiment was conducted.
My findings suggest…	Use a different subject	The findings suggest…

Using first-person pronouns appropriately

While first-person pronouns are acceptable in many academic contexts, they should be used judiciously for specific purposes rather than excessively. When using first-person pronouns, be cautious about inserting mere personal opinions, preferences, or unsupported subjective statements that do not substantively contribute to your academic argument:

• Avoid phrases like “In my opinion…” or “I think that…” unless you are explicitly contrasting your stance against others’.
• Do not include remarks like “I dislike…” or “I prefer…” about your feelings toward the subject matter unless directly relevant to the analysis.

Use the first person…	Examples
To structure the paper’s argument and guide the reader	In this study, we first examine prior research… I will then analyze the data and discuss implications.
To describe methodology, processes, and author steps taken	We conducted interviews with 25 participants. I utilized a mixed-methods approach.
To state a clear stance, position, or contrast with other views	Our results contradict the claim that…I argue this alternative theory better explains…

Pronoun consistency

Regardless of whether first-person pronouns are used or avoided, it is essential to maintain consistency throughout the academic work. Switching between first-person and third-person pronouns can be confusing for the reader and detract from the clarity of the writing.

Inconsistent	Consistent
“The study was conducted by the researchers. We collected data from 100 participants. The results were then analyzed by them.“	“The study was conducted by the researchers. They collected data from 100 participants. The results were then analyzed by the same group of researchers.”
“I designed the experiment and carried out the procedures. The data were statistically analyzed to test our hypotheses. The findings indicate that the new technique is effective.”	“I designed the experiment and carried out the procedures. I statistically analyzed the data to test my hypotheses. My findings indicate that the new technique is effective.”

The editorial “we”

In some academic disciplines, particularly in the sciences, the editorial “we” is commonly used. This convention involves using the first-person plural pronoun “we” to refer to the author and the broader scientific community or readership. This usage can convey a sense of collective understanding and shared knowledge within the field.

When making generalizations in academic writing, avoid using first-person singular pronouns like “I” and second-person “you”; instead, rephrase using third-person plural pronouns like “they” or the impersonal pronoun “one” to maintain an objective, formal tone.

Generalization with First/Second Person	Rephrased with Third-Person Plural or Impersonal “One”
“When I get tired, I tend to procrastinate more.”	“People tend to procrastinate more when they get tired.”
“When you pull an all-nighter, you don’t perform as well the next day.”	“Individuals do not perform as well after pulling an all-nighter.”
“If you exercise regularly, you’ll feel more energetic.”	“One tends to feel more energetic if exercising regularly.”
“In my experience, I get burned out if I work too many hours.”	“They tend to experience burnout if working too many hours.”