Academic writing standards generally condemn the use of first and second person pronouns such as I me my you and your Why do you think this is the case?

Answer 1

Both first and second person pronouns have an informal tone of voice. With first person pronouns, the writer is referring to herself directly ("I did this" "my reason is"). And while an informal tone of voice isn't in any way "wrong" or "illegal," it often doesn't match the writing situation. Most students are not being asked to write personal narratives; they're being asked to write arguments, often researched arguments, in which personal stories are subordinate to actual researched evidence. Of course, if the student decides it would be effective to include a personal story as well, then first person pronouns are appropriate for that section of the paper.

Second person pronouns are even more problematic. If a writer uses them, the writer is now speaking directly to the person reading the paper. Again, that's fine in a letter or email, but it usually doesn't match the writing assignment scenario in a classroom. The student isn't writing directly to a teacher ("when you look at the stars...."); the student is writing for a broader audience that includes the teacher, the other students, and any other reader who is interested in the topic. So an academic writer who uses "you" is often mistaken about who his audience is.

Answer 2

Academic writing aims to maintain an objective and formal tone. Avoiding first and second person pronouns helps in achieving this, as these pronouns often introduce subjectivity and personal opinions. By using third person pronouns or passive voice, academic writing emphasizes the focus on the subject matter rather than the author or reader, ensuring a more impartial and professional approach.