Writing in the third person can be easy with a little practice. For academic purposes, using this type of writing means avoiding the use of personal pronouns, such as "I" or "you". However, there are differences between the omniscient third-person narrator and the limited third-person narrator (who in turn may have subjective, objective and episodically limited points of view). Choose, after reading this article, the type of storytelling that best suits your project.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Write an Academic Text in the Third Person
Step 1. Use the third person in any academic text
For formal texts, such as research and argumentative reports, always use the third person, which makes your writing more objective and less personal. For academic and professional writing, this sense of objectivity allows the writer to appear impartial and, consequently, more credible.
The third person gives the impression that the writing is focused on facts and evidence, not on personal opinions
Step 2. Use the correct pronouns
The third person refers to people "on the outside". You have to quote people by name or use third person pronouns.
- Third person pronouns include: he, he, it, self (himself), lo, him, yes, she, she, she, herself, la, le, yes, they, they, self (themselves), them, ne, yes, they, themselves, le, ne, yes, his, his, them, etc.
- You can use other people's names when using the third person.
- Example: "Rossi has a different opinion. According to his research, previous beliefs on the subject are incorrect."
Step 3. Avoid first person pronouns
The first person refers to the personal point of view of the writer. This view makes the arguments seem personal and opinionated. You should always avoid the first person in an academic essay.
- First person pronouns include: I, me, me, my, mine, we, our, ours, us, etc.
- The problem with the first person, from an academic point of view, is that it sounds too personal and subjective. In other words, it may be difficult to convince the reader that the opinions and ideas expressed are objective and not influenced by personal feelings. In many cases, people who use the first person in academic texts employ expressions such as "I think", "I believe" or "In my opinion".
- Incorrect example: "Although Rossi has this opinion, I believe his argument is incorrect."
- Correct example: "Although Rossi has this opinion, other industry experts disagree."
Step 4. Avoid second person pronouns
The second person makes a direct reference to the reader. This point of view proves too familiar with the reader to speak to him directly, as if you knew him. You should never use the second person in academic texts.
- Second person personal pronouns include: tu, your, your, ti, you, your, your, vi.
- One of the main problems with the second person is that it can seem accusatory. You run the risk of putting too much responsibility on the reader who reads your work.
- Incorrect example: "If you still disagree, it means you don't know the facts."
- Correct example: "Anyone who still disagrees today does not know the facts".
Step 5. Refer to the subject in general terms
In some cases, a writer has to refer to someone in indefinite terms. It is in these cases that we often give in to the temptation to use the second person. Instead, a third person noun or pronoun would be appropriate.
- The following are the most common third person names in academic texts: the writer, the reader, the people, the students, a student, a teacher, the people, a person, a woman, a man, a child, the researchers, scientists, writers, experts.
- Example: "Despite the difficulties of the case, the researchers still persist in their thesis."
- Third person indefinite pronouns include: one, anyone, all, someone, none, another, any, everyone, all, etc.
- Incorrect example: "You may be tempted to agree without knowing all the facts."
- Correct example: "Some might be tempted to agree without knowing all the facts."
Step 6. If you write in English, pay attention to the use of singular and plural pronouns
A mistake often made by authors when writing in the third person is to switch to a plural pronoun when the subject should be singular.
- Generally, this occurs in an attempt to avoid the use of a gender specific pronoun, such as "she" or "he". The mistake, in this case, would be to replace one of these pronouns with "they".
- Incorrect example: "The witness wanted to offer anonymous testimony. They were afraid of getting hurt if their name was spread."
- Correct example: "The witness wanted to offer anonymous witness. He or she was afraid of getting hurt if his or her name was spread."
Method 2 of 5: Writing in the Omniscient Third Person
Step 1. Shift the focus from character to character
When you use the omniscient third person perspective in a narrative text, the point of view jumps from one person to another instead of following the thoughts, actions and words of a single character. The narrator knows everything about all the characters and the world. It can reveal or hide any thoughts, feelings or actions.
- A story, for example, might include four main characters: Mario, Giovanni, Erika, and Samantha. At various points in the story, each character's actions and thoughts should be described. These thoughts can be written in the same chapter or as a narrative block.
- Example: "Mario thought that Erika was lying, but he wanted to believe that she had a good reason for doing so. Samantha, on the other hand, believed that Erika was lying and felt jealous that Mario had a positive opinion on the other girl."
- If you want to choose an omniscient third-person narrator, you have to be careful not to change the perspective from one character to another in the same scene, the so-called "head-hopping" in English. It's not that this is contrary to omniscient third-person narrative rules, but it makes the narrative confusing and difficult for the reader to follow.
Step 2. Reveal the information you want
With the omniscient third person, the narrative is not limited to the inner thoughts and feelings of the characters. This method of storytelling allows the writer to reveal parts of the future and the past of the story as well. The narrator can also communicate his opinion, offer a moral perspective, discuss natural scenes in which no characters are present.
- In a sense, the writer of a story told according to an omniscient third-person narrative is a kind of "god" of the tale. The narrator can observe the external actions of any character at any time, but unlike a human observer, who has limitations, the writer can peek into everyone's inner ruminations.
- Know when to back off. As much as the writer can reveal any information he desires, it would be best to proceed gradually. For example, if a character is enveloped in a mysterious aura, it would be wise to limit access to his inner feelings before revealing, at the right moment, what he really thinks.
Step 3. Avoid using first or second person pronouns
Active dialogues should be the only times you enter the pronouns "I" and "we". The same goes for second person pronouns like "you".
- Do not use the first or second person point of view in the narrative or descriptive parts of the text.
- Correct example: "Giovanni said to Erika:" I think it is disturbing. What do you think about it?"".
- Incorrect example: "I think this was disturbing and Erika and Giovanni thought it too. What do you think?".
Method 3 of 5: Third Person Storytelling with a Limited Subjective Point of View
Step 1. Choose a single character to follow
When you write in the third person with a limited point of view, you have complete access to the actions, thoughts, feelings and beliefs of a single character. The writer can write as if the character is thinking and reacting, or take a step back and be more objective.
- The thoughts and feelings of the other characters remain unknown to the writer for the duration of the text. For this specific narrative point of view, it is not possible to pass from the intimacy of one character to that of another as it happens with the omniscient third person.
- Contrary to first-person narration, where the protagonist is himself a narrator, third-person narration sets a certain distance between the narrator and the protagonist. This distance is important, for example, it allows the narrator to reveal an unpleasant aspect of the character's personality, something that the character probably would not have revealed if he were telling the story himself.
Step 2. Talk about the character's actions and thoughts as if you were seeing them from the outside
While your focus remains on a single character, you should still treat him as a separate entity from the narrator. If the narrator follows the character's thoughts, feelings and internal dialogue, he must do so in the third person.
- In other words, don't use first person pronouns like "I", "me", "my", "we" or "our" out of dialogue. The thoughts and feelings of the main character are transparent to the writer, but the figure of the character is distinct from that of the narrator.
- Correct example: "Laura felt terrible after the fight with her boyfriend."
- Correct example: "Laura thought" I feel terrible after arguing with my boyfriend "".
- Incorrect example: "I felt terrible after the fight with my boyfriend."
Step 3. Focus on the other characters' actions and words, not their thoughts or feelings
The writer is limited both as the protagonist of the story and as the reader as regards the intimate thoughts of the other characters. With this point of view, however, the other characters can be described without the protagonist noticing them. The narrator can say anything the protagonist might say; it cannot just enter the character's head.
- Remember that the author can offer opinions or assumptions about other characters' thoughts, but those insights must be presented from the perspective of the main character.
- Correct example: "Laura felt terrible, but judging by the expression on Carlo's face, the girl assumed he felt just as bad, if not worse."
- Incorrect example: "Laura felt terrible. What she didn't know is that Carlo felt worse."
Step 4. Don't reveal information your protagonist ignores
Even though the narrator can step back and describe the environment or the other characters, it will need to be information that the main character can see. Don't go from one character's point of view to another's within a single scene. Even the external actions of other characters can only be known when the main character attends them.
- Correct example: "Laura, from the window, saw Carlo arrive at his house and ring the bell".
- Incorrect example: "As soon as Laura left the room, Carlo breathed a sigh of relief."
Method 4 of 5: Third Person Storytelling with Episodically Limited Point of View
Step 1. Jump from character to character
With the episodically limited third person, the writer can take the subjective limited point of view of several main characters, whose thoughts and points of view alternate. Use all perspectives to reveal important information and carry the story forward.
- Limit the number of views you include. Don't include too many characters that can confuse the reader and serve no purpose. Each character with point of view should have a specific purpose, which justifies their unique perspective. Ask yourself how each point of view contributes to the story.
- For example, in a love story that follows two main characters, Marco and Paola, the writer may choose to explain the intimate emotions of both protagonists at different moments in the narrative.
- One character might get more attention than the other, but all the protagonists followed should have space at some point in the story.
Step 2. Focus on the thoughts and perspective of one character at a time
Although multiple points of view are included in the overall narrative, the writer should focus on only one character at a time.
- Multiple perspectives shouldn't appear in the same narrative space. When one character's perspective ends, another's can begin. Don't forget, though, that the two views shouldn't be mixed in the same space.
- Incorrect example: "Marco fell totally in love with Paola when he met her. Paola, on the other hand, could not trust Marco".
Step 3. Try to achieve smooth transitions
While the writer may switch from one character's perspective to another, doing so arbitrarily can confuse the reader.
- In a novel, a good time to change your perspective is at the beginning of a new chapter or at the end, anticipating what will happen in the next.
- The author should also identify from the beginning of the section the character whose perspective is followed, preferably in the first sentence. Otherwise, the reader may waste too much energy guessing it.
- Correct example: "Paola, she hated to admit it, but the roses that Marco had left her at the door were a pleasant surprise."
- Incorrect example: "The roses left in the doorway seemed to her a nice gesture."
Step 4. Understand who knows what
Although the reader may have access to information through the perspective of multiple characters, the latter do not possess the same kind of knowledge. Some characters have no way of knowing what others know.
For example, if Marco talked to Paola's best friend about her co-star's feelings towards her, the latter cannot know what was said, unless she witnessed the conversation or was told by Marco from her. Her friend
Method 5 of 5: Third Person Narration with Objective Limited Point of View
Step 1. Follow the actions of many characters
When using the third person with objective limited point of view, you can describe the actions and words of any character at any time and place within the story.
- There is no need to focus on a single main character. The writer can switch from one character to another, following the various characters throughout the narrative whenever he wants to.
- Do not, however, use first person pronouns, such as "I", and second person pronouns, such as "you", in the narrative. Use them only in dialogue.
Step 2. Don't try to get directly into a character's mind
The idea of this narrative typology is to present an objective and completely impartial image of each character.
- Imagine that you are an invisible observer who witnesses the actions and dialogues of the characters in the story. You are not omniscient, so you do not have access to their intimate thoughts and feelings. You can only know the actions of each character.
- Correct example: "After class, Graham hurried out of the classroom to go straight to his dorm."
- Incorrect example: "After class, Graham hastily left the classroom to go straight to his dormitory. The professor's explanation angered him so much that he would have reacted sharply to even a simple greeting from an acquaintance."
Step 3. Show without telling
Although an objective writer cannot share a character's intimate thoughts, he can still make external observations to suggest the possible emotions that led to certain actions. Describe what happens. Instead of telling the reader that a character is angry, describe their facial expression, body language, and tone of voice to show their anger.
- Correct example: "When they all left, Isabella burst into tears."
- Incorrect example: "Isabella was too proud to cry in front of other people, but she felt so sad that she burst into tears as soon as she was alone."
Step 4. Avoid entering your thoughts
The purpose of the writer who uses the third person with objective limited point of view is to act as a reporter, not as a commentator.
- Let the reader come to his own conclusions. It presents the character's actions without analyzing them or explaining how they should be viewed.
- Correct example: "Yolanda looked over her shoulder three times before sitting down."
- Incorrect example: "It would seem like a strange action, but Yolanda looked over her shoulder three times before sitting down. This compulsive habit is a symptom of a paranoid state of mind."
