{"id":151,"date":"2019-04-16T12:50:51","date_gmt":"2019-04-16T12:50:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca\/scholarlywriting\/?post_type=chapter&p=151"},"modified":"2025-09-09T15:31:43","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T15:31:43","slug":"point-of-view-and-pronouns","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/scholarlywriting\/chapter\/point-of-view-and-pronouns\/","title":{"raw":"Point of View and Pronouns","rendered":"Point of View and Pronouns"},"content":{"raw":"

Point of view\u00a0<\/span><\/b>(PoV) is the perspective <\/b>used\u00a0<\/b>when writing a text. PoV is best understood through pronoun usage and described as first person, second person, <\/b>or\u00a0third person<\/b>. See Table 5.1 <\/b>about the use of PoV.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Table 5.1: <\/span><\/b>Use of PoV<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
PoV<\/th>\r\nExamples<\/th>\r\nWhen it is used in nursing<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
\r\n

First person PoV uses pronouns such as I, our, and we.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

I did not know how to respond when I observed the way the nurse spoke to the patient.<\/p>\r\nOur study findings illuminate the need for handwashing when nurses come in contact with body fluids.\r\n\r\nWe reviewed the literature and garnered the following insights.<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

Used when referring to yourself (I) or when you are referring to yourself with others (we\/our) such as when there are multiple authors on a paper (e.g., a group paper). Typically used when the author is reflecting on a personal\/professional experience. Also commonly used when presenting findings from qualitative research and sometimes quantitative research. Benefits are that it is a clear way of writing and the reader always knows who is speaking. It also helps to avoid [pb_glossary id=\"614\"]anthropomorphism[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> in your writing. You should avoid language such as \u201cThe chapter outlines the steps of the research process.\u201d Remember: \u201cthe chapter\u201d is a non-human object and can\u2019t \u201coutline\u201d anything. A better alternative is: \u201cIn this chapter, the steps of the research process are outlined.\u201d Another example of anthropomorphism is \"The experiment tested how best to treat pain in a pediatric populations.\" A better alternative is \"In this study, researchers conducted an experiment about how best to treat pain in a pediatric population.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\r\n
\r\n
<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
\r\n

Second person PoV uses pronouns such as you, and your.<\/span><\/p>\r\n <\/td>\r\n

\r\n

Your diet should include a variety of healthy foods each day. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n

You will note from the exemplar, the following four main ideas.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n

You should look at your incision every day for signs of infection such as redness.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

Used when you are addressing one or more readers specifically. It is not considered scholarly so you would avoid using it in an academic paper. Often used for informational and instructional resources for clients and families. Use of the pronoun you <\/i>makes the message applicable to the reader and draws them into the message.<\/span><\/p>\r\n <\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

\r\n

Third person PoV uses pronouns such as she, he, they, it, and their. It also identifies people using nouns (e.g., the researcher)<\/span><\/p>\r\n <\/td>\r\n

\r\n

The researchers concluded that effective communication leads to enhanced therapeutic relationships between the nurse and client.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n

Their assessment of the literature revealed that discussions about the home environment led to more open discussions about interpersonal violence.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n

Research conducted by Trudeau and colleagues influenced how nursing care was delivered. <\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

Used when the intention is to provide an objective perspective to the writing and eliminate subjectivity. In nursing, it is typically used in policy papers and often when presenting quantitative findings.<\/span><\/p>\r\n <\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\nHere are some other important points to consider when choosing your pronouns:\r\n

    \r\n \t
  • Whatever PoV you use,\u00a0consistency is paramount<\/strong>. If you start writing a text in third person PoV, use it consistently throughout your text. Don\u2019t move back and forth between third person and second person, or first person and second person. It confuses the reader!<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Your choice of PoV is influenced by the purpose and audience\u00a0<\/strong>for your writing. Reflect on how the use of I\u00a0<\/em>(first person), you\u00a0<\/em>(second person) and the researcher\/they\u00a0<\/em>(third person) will influence your message.<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Watch out for gendered assumptions\u00a0<\/strong>in your use of pronouns like he\u00a0<\/em>or she<\/em>. Assumption of gender is a common error. For example:\r\n
      \r\n \t
    • Historically, nursing has been a female profession, but now all genders are represented in the field.\u00a0Avoid statements like:\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cA nurse should assess her client\u2019s preferences before suggesting healthy ways of eating.\u201d This is incorrect because the pronoun use of her <\/em>assumes that all nurses are female. It is also incorrect because it sounds possessive: as if the nurse owns <\/em>the client. It can easily be modified to<\/strong>: \u201cNurses should assess clients\u2019 preferences before suggesting healthy ways of eating.\u201d<\/li>\r\n \t
    • The second error related to pronouns and gender is to assume a binary\u00a0<\/strong>in which only two genders exist. Gender exists on a continuum, and you may already be aware of the recent movement to embrace the pronoun they <\/em>in both a singular and plural capacity. Before starting a class assignment, you might want to have a discussion with your instructor about this.<\/li>\r\n \t
    • Don\u2019t assume gender when citing an author. Avoid using she\u00a0<\/em>or he\u00a0<\/em>if an author\u2019s name is traditionally perceived as female (e.g., Lisa Dottie) or male (e.g., Martin Lin). Rather, it is best to use their last name (e.g., In Dottie\u2019s research, it was found\u2026).<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \r\n
      \r\n

      Student Tip<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n

      \r\n\r\nIs First Person Point of View (PoV) Scholarly?<\/strong>\r\n

      You may be wondering: Is first person PoV considered scholarly? Can I use first person PoV when writing papers in my courses? The short answer to the first question is \"yes first person PoV is scholarly! The answer to the second question is a bit more complex: it is still being debated among nursing instructors, so it\u2019s best to check with your instructor if you are unsure.<\/span><\/p>\r\nAvoid the Royal-Editorial \"We\" and \"Our\"<\/strong>\r\n\r\nThe royal or editorial \"we\" or \"our\" is when you use a plural pronoun when in fact you should be specific about who you are referring to in your writing.\r\n\r\nExample:\r\n

        \r\n \t
      • Ineffective: We<\/strong> are known to be an empathetic profession. Effective: The profession of nursing is known to be empathetic.<\/li>\r\n \t
      • Ineffective: It is part of our<\/strong> role to advocate for patients. Effective: An important part of the nursing role is patient advocacy.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

        Activities: Check Your Understanding<\/span><\/h2>\r\n[h5p id=\"39\"]\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n[h5p id=\"40\"]\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n[h5p id=\"41\"]\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n[h5p id=\"42\"]","rendered":"

        Point of view\u00a0<\/span><\/b>(PoV) is the perspective <\/b>used\u00a0<\/b>when writing a text. PoV is best understood through pronoun usage and described as first person, second person, <\/b>or\u00a0third person<\/b>. See Table 5.1 <\/b>about the use of PoV.<\/span><\/p>\n

        Table 5.1: <\/span><\/b>Use of PoV<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
        PoV<\/th>\nExamples<\/th>\nWhen it is used in nursing<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
        \n

        First person PoV uses pronouns such as I, our, and we.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

        		\n

        I did not know how to respond when I observed the way the nurse spoke to the patient.<\/p>\n

        Our study findings illuminate the need for handwashing when nurses come in contact with body fluids.<\/p>\n

        We reviewed the literature and garnered the following insights.<\/td>\n

        		\n

        Used when referring to yourself (I) or when you are referring to yourself with others (we\/our) such as when there are multiple authors on a paper (e.g., a group paper). Typically used when the author is reflecting on a personal\/professional experience. Also commonly used when presenting findings from qualitative research and sometimes quantitative research. Benefits are that it is a clear way of writing and the reader always knows who is speaking. It also helps to avoid

        \n

        Second person PoV uses pronouns such as you, and your.<\/span><\/p>\n

         <\/td>\n

        		\n

        Your diet should include a variety of healthy foods each day. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

        You will note from the exemplar, the following four main ideas.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

        You should look at your incision every day for signs of infection such as redness.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

        		\n

        Used when you are addressing one or more readers specifically. It is not considered scholarly so you would avoid using it in an academic paper. Often used for informational and instructional resources for clients and families. Use of the pronoun you <\/i>makes the message applicable to the reader and draws them into the message.<\/span><\/p>\n

         <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

        \n

        Third person PoV uses pronouns such as she, he, they, it, and their. It also identifies people using nouns (e.g., the researcher)<\/span><\/p>\n

         <\/td>\n

        		\n

        The researchers concluded that effective communication leads to enhanced therapeutic relationships between the nurse and client.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

        Their assessment of the literature revealed that discussions about the home environment led to more open discussions about interpersonal violence.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

        Research conducted by Trudeau and colleagues influenced how nursing care was delivered. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

        		\n

        Used when the intention is to provide an objective perspective to the writing and eliminate subjectivity. In nursing, it is typically used in policy papers and often when presenting quantitative findings.<\/span><\/p>\n

         <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

        Here are some other important points to consider when choosing your pronouns:<\/p>\n

          \n
        • Whatever PoV you use,\u00a0consistency is paramount<\/strong>. If you start writing a text in third person PoV, use it consistently throughout your text. Don\u2019t move back and forth between third person and second person, or first person and second person. It confuses the reader!<\/li>\n
        • Your choice of PoV is influenced by the purpose and audience\u00a0<\/strong>for your writing. Reflect on how the use of I\u00a0<\/em>(first person), you\u00a0<\/em>(second person) and the researcher\/they\u00a0<\/em>(third person) will influence your message.<\/li>\n
        • Watch out for gendered assumptions\u00a0<\/strong>in your use of pronouns like he\u00a0<\/em>or she<\/em>. Assumption of gender is a common error. For example:\n
            \n
          • Historically, nursing has been a female profession, but now all genders are represented in the field.\u00a0Avoid statements like:\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cA nurse should assess her client\u2019s preferences before suggesting healthy ways of eating.\u201d This is incorrect because the pronoun use of her <\/em>assumes that all nurses are female. It is also incorrect because it sounds possessive: as if the nurse owns <\/em>the client. It can easily be modified to<\/strong>: \u201cNurses should assess clients\u2019 preferences before suggesting healthy ways of eating.\u201d<\/li>\n
          • The second error related to pronouns and gender is to assume a binary\u00a0<\/strong>in which only two genders exist. Gender exists on a continuum, and you may already be aware of the recent movement to embrace the pronoun they <\/em>in both a singular and plural capacity. Before starting a class assignment, you might want to have a discussion with your instructor about this.<\/li>\n
          • Don\u2019t assume gender when citing an author. Avoid using she\u00a0<\/em>or he\u00a0<\/em>if an author\u2019s name is traditionally perceived as female (e.g., Lisa Dottie) or male (e.g., Martin Lin). Rather, it is best to use their last name (e.g., In Dottie\u2019s research, it was found\u2026).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

             <\/p>\n

            \n
            \n

            Student Tip<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/header>\n

            \n

            Is First Person Point of View (PoV) Scholarly?<\/strong><\/p>\n

            You may be wondering: Is first person PoV considered scholarly? Can I use first person PoV when writing papers in my courses? The short answer to the first question is “yes first person PoV is scholarly! The answer to the second question is a bit more complex: it is still being debated among nursing instructors, so it\u2019s best to check with your instructor if you are unsure.<\/span><\/p>\n

            Avoid the Royal-Editorial “We” and “Our”<\/strong><\/p>\n

            The royal or editorial “we” or “our” is when you use a plural pronoun when in fact you should be specific about who you are referring to in your writing.<\/p>\n

            Example:<\/p>\n

              \n
            • Ineffective: We<\/strong> are known to be an empathetic profession. Effective: The profession of nursing is known to be empathetic.<\/li>\n
            • Ineffective: It is part of our<\/strong> role to advocate for patients. Effective: An important part of the nursing role is patient advocacy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

              Activities: Check Your Understanding<\/span><\/h2>\n
              \n