The impersonal voice comes across in writing that avoids referring to the people involved. An impersonal voice is created when neither the writer nor the reader(s) are mentioned by first- or second-person pronouns in the text. The only pronouns used are it, they, their and them:

An impersonal voice is used in formal writing, and can be seen as more professional and objective.

The impersonal is most commonly used in:

• journal articles
• government reports
• policies.

The impersonal voice has traditionally been used in academic and government writing, but this is shifting.