Every now and then we hear a comment or come across a warning like this: “You should not use first-person pronouns like I and we in scientific texts”. Many repeat this with the authority of those who pronounce the eleventh commandment. But does this make sense? This is a controversial topic and if you Google “first person pronouns in science writing” you’ll see what I’m talking about.
In fact, the practice of avoiding first-person pronouns (such as “I,” “we,” “me,” or “our”) is rooted in the idea of maintaining objectivity and focusing on the research and its results rather than the researchers themselves.
However, on the other hand, the use of first-person pronouns very often increases clarity and objectivity in some situations.
For example, suppose you have done something (experiment, simulations, theorem proof, etc.), then in this case there is no reason to avoid using I (or we for teamwork): you are just pointing out clearly and loudly who did what. The use of passive voice in this case compromises clarity (worsening the text) because it does not make it clear who did the work/task in question. You, of course, always have the alternative to use “the author(s)” instead of I(we), but this is a subterfuge that I don’t particularly appreciate (I don’t like talking about myself in the third person).
Actually, I think it’s up to authors to decide when to use the first person or not. Personally, I encourage the use of the first person when necessary to increase the clarity of the text. And if you don’t agree, no worries, this is a matter of writing style and both you and I are free to adopt our own styles.
Finally, I would just like to remind you that René Descartes, the father of the scientific method, used the first person throughout his seminal writing “Discourse on Method”. Well, this opens up jurisprudence for those like me who are not opposed to the use of first-person pronouns when applicable.
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