Why is it important to write in third person?

Many people believe that writing in third person is more professional. However, there are several benefits to writing in first person that can make your writing

Why is it important to write in third person?

The main advantage of writing fiction in the third person (using the pronouns he, she, they, etc.) Information can be given to the reader about each character and situation, regardless of whether the individual characters know anything about it or not. This allows the writer to explore different characters and infer multiple perspectives, although it doesn't have to mean that's the case. This allows for a strong sense of scale in the story, but it also gives the writer the luxury of telling scenes from multiple perspectives and, therefore, offering different stories. This means that your reader is even more detached than you as a writer, and this can prevent some readers from developing empathy with your characters. The main advantage of writing fiction in the third person (using the pronouns he, she, they, etc.) Information can be given to the reader about each character and situation, regardless of whether the individual characters know anything about it or not. This allows the writer to explore different characters and infer multiple perspectives, although it doesn't have to mean that's the case. This allows for a strong sense of scale in the story, but it also gives the writer the luxury of telling scenes from multiple perspectives and, therefore, offering different stories. This means that your reader is even more detached than you as a writer, and this can prevent some readers from developing empathy with your characters.

Sometimes, writers may choose to include elements of the first-person point of view by mentioning the characters' thoughts and feelings without using “he thought” or “she felt” in the text.

Dr. Isla Merrick
Dr. Isla Merrick

The Cognitive Writing ScholarA guide who frames writing not simply as a skill, but as a cognitive process, a lens for understanding the world, and a discipline that teaches precision of thought.Background:Dr. Isla Merrick is a lecturer in Academic Literacy and Applied Linguistics, with a research focus on the cognitive and rhetorical foundations of writing. She has spent over a decade helping undergraduate and postgraduate students understand the why behind academic conventions—objectivity, clarity, argumentation, third-person stance, formality, and structured reasoning.Her work draws from:• rhetoric and composition theory• cognitive science and writing psychology• applied linguistics• research writing + epistemic literacy• academic integrity and ethical authorship• dissertation and thesis pedagogyIsla’s writing style blends analytical calm, conceptual clarity, and supportive instruction, helping students move from confusion to control. She specialises in explaining complex academic principles in simple, structured language.