How to write in the third person
In written language, personal pronouns are presented in three ways: first person, second person, and third person. In the first person a speaker expresses his/her personal views, such as ‘I ate an apple.’ In the second person a speaker speaks to another person, ‘you ate an apple.’ In the third person the speaker speaks about another person, e.g. ‘she ate an apple.’
Thus, the third person describes the singular pronouns he, she, it or the plural - they.
Writing in the third person can provide a writer with a large degree of freedom, as it is not a personal view. A third person viewpoint could express a detached view that the writer may or may not agree with, in addition to allowing a reader to know what the character is thinking, by using an omniscient narrator.
To write in the third person isn’t any more difficult than writing in the first or second person. If you choose a specific personal pronoun in which to write, be sure that you don’t veer into another. The following is incorrect:
She walked along the dark corridor and you turned the corner. The change from third to second person is confusing and could indicate that there are two people in the scene.
Thus, the correct way to write in the third person is:
She walked along the dark corridor and turned the corner.
Consistency is the key for correct third person writing.
Thus, the third person describes the singular pronouns he, she, it or the plural - they.
Writing in the third person can provide a writer with a large degree of freedom, as it is not a personal view. A third person viewpoint could express a detached view that the writer may or may not agree with, in addition to allowing a reader to know what the character is thinking, by using an omniscient narrator.
To write in the third person isn’t any more difficult than writing in the first or second person. If you choose a specific personal pronoun in which to write, be sure that you don’t veer into another. The following is incorrect:
She walked along the dark corridor and you turned the corner. The change from third to second person is confusing and could indicate that there are two people in the scene.
Thus, the correct way to write in the third person is:
She walked along the dark corridor and turned the corner.
Consistency is the key for correct third person writing.