The Point Of View

In literature, point of view is the mode of narration that an author employs to let the readers “hear” and “see” what takes place in a story, poem, or essay. Third person point of view uses pronouns like “he,” “she,” “it,” “they,” or a name.
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Please note that these distances should be thought of as ranges, not precise calculations. A third person narrator could conceivably draw closer to the reader than a first person narrator. There is no best point of view. Which the four point of views have you used in your writing?

Definition of Point of View

Share in the comments. Make sure to avoid the POV mistakes listed in the article above. Write for fifteen minutes. When your time is up, post your practice in the comments section.


  • South Beach Cinderella.
  • First-person Point of View!
  • What is point of view?.
  • Point of View Definition?

And if you post, please be sure to give feedback to your fellow writers. Building an Author Website.

The Ultimate Point of View Guide: Third Person Omniscient vs. Third Person Limited vs. First Person

The Ultimate Point of View Guide: Third Person Omniscient vs. Third Person Limited vs. First Person by Joe Bunting 69 comments. What do those even mean? And how do you choose the right one for your story? Which means if you get it wrong, your entire story is damaged. First person point of view. Second person point of view. Third person point of view, limited. The narrator is outside of the story and relating the experiences of a character.


  1. Examples of Point of View.
  2. Summer Camp Blues.
  3. Point of view definitions: First, second, third.
  4. Bullet Park (Vintage Classics).
  5. Third person point of view, omniscient. Joe Bunting is a writer and entrepreneur. You can follow him on Twitter joebunting. Rep Your Practice If you practice, let the people who read your blog know. Copy and paste the code for the button into your sidebar and show off your hard work. When writing in second-person point of view, the writer has the narrator speaking to the reader.

    The words "you," "your," and "yours" are used in this point of view. Some common uses for second-person point of view are directions, business writing, technical writing, song lyrics, speeches, and advertising. For more examples see our article on writing in second person.

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    Third-person point of view has an external narrator telling the story. The words "he," "she," "it," or "they" are used in this point of view.

    Point of View

    This point of view can either be omniscient where the reader knows what all the characters are doing in the story or it can be limited to having the reader only know what is happening to one specific character. Third person can also be gender specific or neutral, singular or plural. Third-person point of view is often used in academic writing and fictional writing. Some examples of third person point of view:.

    Second-person Point of View

    For more information on the third-person point of view read Examples of Writing in the Third Person. What point of view you choose to use in writing depends on how you want the story directed to the reader.

    If you are telling a story from the writer's perspective, use the first-person point of view to provide a sense of intimacy. To direct the writing at the reader, say, for a recipe or speech, use the second person as a way to separate the writer from the narrative. To tell the story from an outside perspective, with the ability to have an overview of the piece, use the third person. Always be sure to be consistent in your writing and stick with one point of view throughout.

    This makes it easier for the reader to understand your angle.