Yes, you can use first person in a research paper — but sparingly, and only in fields that allow it. Humanities and qualitative social science papers accept "I" in moderation. Quantitative STEM and psychology papers in APA style generally avoid it, preferring "we" for multi-author work and passive constructions for single-author work. When in doubt, check two or three articles from your course's reading list and follow their convention.
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The rule about first person has shifted over the last twenty years. The old blanket ban ("never use I in academic writing") is no longer standard advice from the major style guides. MLA explicitly permits first person. APA's 7th edition explicitly recommends "I" over awkward passive voice. Chicago leaves it to the discipline. What has not changed is that first person is a tool with a specific job, not a default voice.
Quick rule by field
| Field | First person allowed? | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | | English, Literature, Philosophy | Yes, sparingly | "I argue that…" is standard | | History | Yes, sparingly | Mostly in the thesis and methodology framing | | Rhetoric and Composition | Yes | Often required, especially for reflective components | | Political Science, Sociology (qualitative) | Yes, sparingly | Accepted for positioning the researcher | | Psychology (APA) | Yes, with restraint | APA 7 explicitly permits and often prefers "I" | | Biology, Chemistry, Physics | Rare | "We" is accepted for multi-author work; passive common | | Engineering and Computer Science | Varies | "We" common in papers; "I" rare in single-author work | | Business and Economics | No for formal papers | Third person and passive preferred | | Nursing (APA) | Yes in reflective sections | Third person for the research itself | | Law | Rare | Third person heavily preferred |
If your field is not listed, the safest default is third person, and then check whether the journal articles you are citing use first person themselves. That is the fastest signal of what your professor expects.
When first person is legitimately useful
There are three places where "I" makes a research paper sharper, not weaker:
- The thesis statement. "I argue that X" is often clearer and shorter than "This paper argues that X" or "It is argued in this paper that X." Most writing instructors now prefer the direct version.
- Methodology transparency. "I conducted interviews with twelve participants" is clearer and more honest than "Twelve interviews were conducted." The second version hides who did what.
- Positioning the researcher. In qualitative work, especially ethnographic or interview-based studies, admitting your perspective is a feature, not a flaw. "As a first-generation college student, I brought certain assumptions to this analysis" is appropriate and expected.
Outside those three jobs, first person usually adds nothing and risks sounding informal. A line like "I think this evidence is interesting" dilutes your argument. Cut the hedge and let the evidence do the work.
Where first person almost always fails
- Presenting evidence or analysis. "I found that the unemployment rate rose" is weaker than "The unemployment rate rose." The evidence should stand on its own.
- Hedging your claims. "I believe," "I feel," and "I think" signal uncertainty and weaken authority. If you have evidence for a claim, state it. If you do not, do not make it.
- Transitions and roadmapping. "I will now turn to…" can be replaced with a topic sentence that actually makes the next point.
- Conclusions that restate your opinion. A conclusion should synthesize, not editorialize.
The pattern: first person is fine when it identifies who did what. It fails when it softens a claim that should stand on its merits.
What about "we" and "the author"?
"We" in a single-author paper used to be the accepted dodge — the "royal we" or "editorial we." Most modern style guides, including APA 7, specifically discourage this because it misrepresents authorship. If the paper has one author, use "I" or restructure the sentence. Use "we" only when there are actually multiple authors.
"The author" as a self-reference (as in "the author conducted the study") is considered awkward in current style guides. APA 7 explicitly flags it as something to avoid. Either use "I" or rewrite to remove the reference.
For a related question about formality choices in academic writing, see is academic writing formal and can I use contractions.
What your professor actually wants
The honest answer: look at the syllabus first, the assignment prompt second, and the sample readings third. If any of those three allow first person, you can. If none of them do, you should not. If the prompt explicitly forbids first person, follow the prompt — this is not the place to make a stylistic stand.
For tense choices that interact with first-person decisions (especially in methodology sections), see what tense for research paper. For structural decisions about how to frame your thesis in first or third person, the pillar guide to writing a research paper includes a section on voice.
When you are scaffolding the first structured draft of your paper and want it aligned to your field's voice conventions, the research paper workflow gives you a starting structure that you can then edit into your own voice.
Frequently asked questions
Is "I" ever required?
Yes, in some reflective and qualitative assignments. Ethnographies, reflective essays, and researcher-positionality statements require you to name your perspective. Trying to do that in third person ("this researcher observed") reads as evasive.
Can I use first person in the abstract?
In APA 7, yes. In older APA conventions and in most STEM fields, no. Check a recent article in your target journal or style guide.
What about second person ("you")?
Second person is almost never appropriate in research papers. It is conversational and pulls the reader out of the analytical frame. Exception: instructional or technical writing where you are addressing a reader performing a task.
Does using "I" make my paper sound less authoritative?
Not if used precisely. A confident "I argue that X because Y" is more authoritative than a passive "It has been argued that X." Authority comes from evidence and clarity, not from avoiding pronouns.