APA format and first person usage. I can not find a referece in the manual which states first person can not be used. Why is it deemed that first person usage is unacceptable? I lost 25% of my grade on a HRM paper for using first person. I was directed it was in vilation of APA format and I have reviewed the manual and I am unable to glean this from the manual, I must be a bit dense....

Question

APA format and first person usage.  I can  not find a referece in the manual which states first person can not be used. Why is it deemed that first person usage is unacceptable?  I lost 25% of my grade on a HRM paper for using first person.  I was directed it was in vilation of APA format and I have reviewed the manual and I am unable to glean this from the manual, I must be a bit dense....

anonymous · Answer

Normally, writing in first person for an essay is illegal. Instead of writing, "I think that hot dogs are better than hamburgers", there is the option of writing "Hot dogs are better than hamburgers." Writing in first person is not exactly a violation of APA, but it's a stylistic violation. When writing essays, the third person has more of a neutral voice than the first person. Writing in first person shows an inability to think outside one's thoughts. Essays are formal writing. Using the first and second person is considered to be informal.

anonymous · Answer

This writer concurs. This is an example of how to say "i agree" in a format acceptable for academic writing.