Can You Use First Person In APA?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

Can you use first person in APA? When writing in APA Style,

you can use the first person point of view when discussing your research steps

(“I studied …”) and when referring to yourself and your co-authors (“We examined the literature …”). Use first person to discuss research steps rather than anthropomorphising the work.

Contents hide

Can you use first person pronouns in APA?


Use first-person in APA Style to describe your work as well as your personal reactions

. If you are writing a paper by yourself, use the pronoun “I” to refer to yourself. If you are writing a paper with coauthors, use the pronoun “we” to refer yourself and your coauthors together.

Can you use I and me in APA format?


If you are tasked with writing a personal response paper, you can do the same

. The authors have also used the pronoun we because there are two of them; if a single author had written this passage, she or he would have used the pronoun I. It's less hard than you might think to write about yourself in APA Style.

Can you use first person pronouns in APA 7th edition?

Can APA be in second-person?

Second-Person Pronouns.


The second-person, you, is not acceptable in APA written works

. Because second-person assumes information about the reader and can be viewed as combative in nature, one or people, or some other noun, should be used instead.

Is APA format in 3rd person?


Most formal writing, including APA papers, uses the third person point of view

. Third person makes ideas sound less subjective since it removes direct reference to the writer.

Can you say you in APA?

The general use of “we,” “our,” or “us,” however, is not acceptable in APA style. By using these pronouns, you may be making assumptions about the reader and allowing a conversational tone that is not scholarly in nature. Note:

The second-person pronoun “you” is also not acceptable in APA style

.

What person should an APA paper be written in?

I love this question, because the answer is always a pleasant surprise: I or we is perfectly acceptable in APA Style! In fact, the Publication Manual actually recommends using

first person

, when appropriate, to avoid ambiguity.

Can I use first person in a research paper?

In general,

it is acceptable in to use the first person point of view in abstracts, introductions, discussions, and conclusions, in some journals

. Even then, avoid using “I” in these sections. Instead, use “we” to refer to the group of researchers that were part of the study.

What words can you not use in APA format?

APA does not recommend replacing

“he” with “he or she,” “she or he,” “he/she,” “(s)he,” “s/he,” or alternating between “he” and “she,”

because these substitutions are awkward and can distract the reader from the point you are trying to make.

How do you cite yourself in third person in APA?

APA advocates for using first person (“I”)when describing your own research study. Do not use “we” unless you have coauthors. Do not refer to either yourself or your coauthors in the third person (“this author” or “these researchers”).

Use “I” and “we” instead

.

How do you cite yourself in APA?

If you are citing a published work, you cite it as per normal for the work (e.g., photograph, book chapter, etc). For the citation (both in-text and in the reference list)

you refer to yourself by name just as you would any other author

.

Which pronoun is acceptable in APA 7th edition?

The seventh edition of the APA Manual endorses the use of “

they

” as a singular pronoun. The manual advises writers to use “they” for a person whose gender is unknown or irrelevant.

Can you use first person in literature review?

What is a Literature Review? Here are seven simple rules that cover the most common literature review mistakes, in no particular order. Refer to these rules before submitting any written work:

Do not write in the first person

(no I or we).

How is an APA paper format?

General APA Guidelines


Your essay should be typed and double-spaced on standard-sized paper (8.5′′ x 11′′), with 1′′ margins on all sides

. You should use a clear font that is highly readable. APA recommends using 12 pt. Times New Roman font.

Is it OK to use first-person in a dissertation?

Formality — A dissertation is a formal document.

Writing in the first person singular is preferred

, but remember that you are writing a scientific document not a child's diary. Don't use informal abbreviations like “don't”.

What should you not include in an APA paper?

  • Incorrect Header. The first words in a paper with a title page is the running header. …
  • Errors in In-Text Citations. …
  • In-Text Citations Don't Match the Reference List. …
  • Incorrect Quotations. …
  • Citing with Multiple Sources.

Can you use first-person in qualitative research?

With regard to research in the qualitative, critical and feminist paradigms, it is further argued that

the use of the first person is required in keeping with the epistemologies of the research and in the pursuit of reflexivity

. Links are made between these arguments and the process of reviewing for academic journals.

Can you use first person in an essay?


Writing first-person essays requires the use of first-person pronouns such as “I,” “me,” and “we.”

This differs from the third-person point of view—which requires the use of third-person pronouns like “he,” “her,” or “them”—and the second-person point of view—which employs second-person pronouns like “you” and “yours.”

Can you say I in academic writing?

In academic or college writing, most formal essays and research reports use third person pronouns and

do not use “I” or “you.”

An essay is the writer's analysis about a topic. The essay is based on the writer's ideas and experience, not on other sources of information the writer has researched.

Is it acceptable for you to use first person pronouns such as I we our and us when writing for the natural and social sciences explain your answer?

In Eloquent Science, Dr. Shultz concludes that “

first-person pronouns in scientific writing are acceptable if used in a limited fashion and to enhance clarity

.” In other words, don't pepper your paper with I's and We's. But you don't have to rigidly avoid the first person either.

How do you avoid first person in academic writing?

Examples of personal opinion: “I believe…” “I think…” “In my opinion…” “I would say that…”

The third person point of view is often used as an alternative to first person as the “voice” in academic writing

.

What should be avoided in academic writing?

  • Plagiarism – Every source you use in an essay should be clearly cited.
  • Informality – Use formal, academic language in your writing.
  • Wordiness – Keep your writing concise by avoiding padding words.
  • Biased language – Look out for biased language and stereotypes.

How do you write an APA format example?

When using APA format, follow the author-date method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the year of publication for the source should appear in the text, E.g.,

(Jones, 1998)

, and a complete reference should appear in the reference list at the end of the paper.

Can you refer to yourself as the author?

In the natural sciences, the use of the personal pronouns “I” (for one author) and “we” (for two or more authors) is perfectly fine. In fact,

you must use these pronouns, if you refer to yourself

! For example the Manual (2009) of the American Psychological Association clearly states (pp.

Is 1st 2nd or 3rd person?

Person Subjective Case Possessive Case Possessive Determiner First Person Singular I my
Second Person Singular


you


your

Third Person Singular


he/she/it


his/her/its

First Person Plural


we


our

Do you have to cite yourself in APA?


If you have made a point or conducted research in one paper that you would like to build on in a later paper, you must cite yourself

, just as you would cite the work of others.

Can I cite myself in a paper?


You can cite yourself just as you would cite any other source

: simply follow the directions for that source type in the citation style you are using. Keep in mind that reusing your previous work can be considered self-plagiarism, so make sure you ask your professor or consult your university's handbook before doing so.

How do you cite a student in APA 7th edition?

What's the difference between APA 6th and 7th?


In APA 6, when a reference had more than seven authors, only the first seven authors were listed in the references list, followed by et al. In APA 7, list all authors up to 20

. When citing a resource, do not include the publisher's city or state. Merriam, S.B. & Grenier, R.S. (2019).

Does APA 7 have a running head?


APA 7 standard for students does not require a running head

.

However, your professor may choose to require one. If a running head is required, type the “TITLE OF PAPER” in all caps in the header, top left of the page. The title page running head is not different from the rest of the pages.

Can you use personal pronouns in a research paper?

How do you avoid writing in second person?

Generally, it is best to

avoid second person pronouns in scholarly writing because they remove the distance between the reader and the writer

. Instead, try to use first or third person pronouns to enhance clarity. Most Walden programs and APA (2020) allow the appropriate use of first person.

What words can you not use in APA format?

APA does not recommend replacing

“he” with “he or she,” “she or he,” “he/she,” “(s)he,” “s/he,” or alternating between “he” and “she,”

because these substitutions are awkward and can distract the reader from the point you are trying to make.

What person should an APA paper be written in?

I love this question, because the answer is always a pleasant surprise: I or we is perfectly acceptable in APA Style! In fact, the Publication Manual actually recommends using

first person

, when appropriate, to avoid ambiguity.

Can you use personal pronouns in a research paper?


Yes!

Research writers frequently wonder whether the first person can be used in academic and scientific writing. In truth, for generations, we've been discouraged from using “I” and “we” in academic writing simply due to old habits.

Amira Khan
Author
Amira Khan
Amira Khan is a philosopher and scholar of religion with a Ph.D. in philosophy and theology. Amira's expertise includes the history of philosophy and religion, ethics, and the philosophy of science. She is passionate about helping readers navigate complex philosophical and religious concepts in a clear and accessible way.