Point of View is a Major Player in Articles

Creative Writing Offers Several Styles Like Second Person Narrative

Sep 10, 2009

Online writing often works well from a second person point of view; however, some people look at this as an informal writing style.

In freelance writing, a mastery of the different types of point of view is necessary. While a third person point of view offers a more professional writing style, some online writers prefer to use second person in order to connect to the readers.

Pronouns Used With Second Person Narrative

To write from the second person point of view, an author needs to use personal pronouns that refer to the main character as a second person. Pronouns can be objects, subjects, adjectives, possessive, or reflexive. In the case of second person, a writer could use the following pronouns:

When it comes to replacing nouns with pronouns, authors should keep in mind that pronouns can be singular or plural. In the second person, the word “you” works as both singular and plural, but words like “yourselves” indicates the plural usage.

Examples of Second Person Point of View

When writing in the second person, an author needs to use the appropriate pronouns. For example, if a person wanted to address a group of writers, he or she might write the following sentence: You need to determine the point of view that best suits your writing. The same sentence in third person would replace the word “you” with a noun like writers or authors and the word “your” with a pronoun like “their.”

Pros and Cons of Using Second Person Writing

Freelance writers who provide online content know that using the pronoun “you” can make readers feel as though the writers are directly speaking to them. While this can be one tool a writer uses to connect with an audience, some companies view this as a more informal style.

Writing in a third person point of view allows separation between the reader and the writer, creating a more formal writing style. Depending on the type of writing, third person also adds an air of authority to the work.

Second Person Viewpoint Works Best for Informal Writing Styles

While second person narrative can work well for online writing, creative writing like novels often requires a first person, third person, or omniscient point of view. In order to help readers connect to the story, an author might strive to create a deep viewpoint.

Because point of view affects the writing process, a writer needs to determine which viewpoint to use prior to starting the work. EnglishClub.com provides an overview of the different types of pronouns and indicates whether they fall into the first person, second person or third person category.

The copyright of the article Point of View is a Major Player in Articles in Writing Techniques is owned by Tara McClendon. Permission to republish Point of View is a Major Player in Articles in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.