‘First person’ is when you are writing from your own point of view (as an individual or part of a group), using I, we, my and our:

First-person singular (I) is usually direct, personal and informal. Using the first person encourages the use of the active voice, making clear whose actions, beliefs and ideas are being described.

First person is most commonly used in:

• personal correspondence
• communications materials
• autobiographies.

First-person plural (we) is often used to express the opinion of a group or to include the audience in the writer’s perspective. It may be used in business or government writing to express the corporate view.

In the past, first person was not used in business, government or academic writing. But it is increasingly accepted – and indeed encouraged – because it personalises content and makes it clear who is speaking or acting. See Moving away from the impersonal for further discussion of this issue.