Be Aware of Your Point of View

No matter what type of content we are writing, point of view is vitally important. Most of our clients prefer none to minimum first person, and the creative brief should let you know whether you should be writing in second or third person. So, make sure to check the brief for every single project you are on – every brief is unique and written to the clients specific requirements. 

So What is Point of View?

In grammar, point of view (first, second or third person) refers to the perspective in which content is written. If you use first person, you’re writing as if you are the speaker. With second person, you’re talking to the reader. And third person, you’re talking about a third party. 

First Person

When you write in first person you use pronouns that show you’re talking about yourself (or in our case the company or brand we are writing for is talking about itself). First person examples include: I, me, my, we, our, us and ourselves. 

There is a place for first person, but in many cases eCommerce is not it. First person can help draw in a reader and form a connection. But, if used at all, it should be minimal

Second Person

Second person is used much more commonly in eCommerce because it addresses the reader and is a great way to compel them into doing something. Second person is great for instructional guides like how to’s and blogs. Second person examples include: You, your, yours, yourself and yourselves. 

There is another type of second person point of view – implied second person. When using this you don’t use you or your, but you’re still compelling the reader to do something. Example: Check out our other helpful grammar articles. 

Third Person

Third person is used a lot in eCommerce because you don’t talk about yourself or to the reader. Instead, it refers to outside people, objects or places. Third person examples include: she, him, her, his, they,their,  theirs, it, its and them. 

To Sum it Up

When writing for eZdia, the point of view you use will depend on the type of content you’re writing and the clients requirements. So, it’s always important to read the creative brief thoroughly for every project. And check it often for updates. It’s also a good idea to use a grammar checker. We prefer ProWritingAid, but there are plenty of others out there to choose from.