Also use “they,” not “he or she,” to refer to a generic individual whose gender is unknown or irrelevant in the context. Use the third-person pronoun “they” to refer to an individual who uses “they” as their chosen pronoun. Teachers should be patient with their students.As a teacher, one should be patient with one’s students.As a teacher, you should be patient with your students.If you need to make a generalization, use the impersonal pronoun “one” instead, or (usually the better option) rephrase. Second-person pronouns (you) should be avoided entirely unless you’re quoting someone else. However, avoid the editorial “we,” which involves using “we” to make a generalization about the world or about a group of people. The researcher(s) administered the test.Don’t refer to yourself in the third person. James and I mounted the projector on the wall.Īppropriate use of personal pronouns is key to maintaining an academic tone in your writing.įirst-person pronouns (I, we) should be used when referring to your own actions and thoughts.When it’s unimportant who carried out a particular action, the passive voice is a better choice. However, that doesn’t mean you can never use the passive voice. ĪPA therefore recommends using the active voice by default. The test was completed by the participants.It can be long-winded, and it sometimes obscures your meaning if you don’t specify the agent. The passive voice, which places the focus on the object of an action rather than on who or what is carrying it out (the agent), is often overused in academic writing. Frequently asked questions about APA language guidelines.
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