10 Better Ways To Say “Our” And “We” In Formal Essays

When writing formal essays, there are rules of English grammar that we need to follow. Sometimes, we need to change perspective, and instead of writing in the first person and saying ‘we,’ we need to stay in the third person. So, what are the best alternatives to saying ‘we?’

There are many alternatives to saying ‘we.’ The most preferred alternatives we use are ‘they,’ ‘the group,’ and ‘the team.’ These three alternatives are the more general alternatives that seem to be applicable in almost all contexts, especially ‘they’ as we simply remove ourselves from the narrative by using it.

They

‘They’ is the most general and preferred alternative to ‘we’ and ‘us.’ By using ‘they,’ we replace our first-person pronoun with a third-person pronoun that simply excludes ourselves from the narrative, making the essay sound more objective and formal. ‘They’ is also a pronoun that is applicable in all contexts.

Take a look at these examples below.

• Original: Humans are incredible creatures. We have so much creativity.
• Alternative: Humans are incredible creatures. They have so much creativity.

• Original: Our group will report tomorrow. We will talk about this month’s sales.
• Alternative: Their group will report tomorrow. They will talk about this month’s sales.

• Original: We simply hope the audience learned something from us.
• Alternative: They simply hope the audience learned something from them.

• Original: We’ve done our research, but we don’t have precise predictions yet.
• Alternative: They’ve done their research, but they don’t have precise predictions yet.

The Group

‘The group’ is a good, general alternative to saying ‘we’ in formal essays. However, this alternative specifies that we refer to ‘we’ as a group of individuals. Therefore, this alternative does not apply to populations of large scale like nations, humans, or races.

Take a look at these examples below.

• Original: We were able to conclude the following findings.
• Alternative: The group was able to conclude the following findings.

• Original: We could not administer the test today due to certain circumstances.
• Alternative: The group could not administer the test today due to certain circumstances?

• Original: Our experimental set-ups did not yield any significant difference.
• Alternative: The group’s experimental set-ups did not yield any significant difference.

• Original: It is beneficial for us if more people participate in the study.
• Alternative: It is beneficial for the group if more people participate in the study.

The Team

‘The team’ is synonymous with ‘the group.’ It is another alternative to saying ‘we’ but implies that ‘we’ refers to a team or a group of individuals that are together for the same purpose. However, ‘the team’ does not apply to bigger populations, like an entire race or human population.

Take a look at these examples below.

• Original: We are composed of individuals with a passion for learning.
• Alternative: The team is composed of individuals with a passion for learning.

• Original: The results of our work do not define our identity.
• Alternative: The results of the team’s work do not define the team’s identity.

• Original: We poured our best efforts into this project.
• Alternative: The team poured their best efforts into this project.

• Original: We do not tolerate any misconduct and violent behavior.
• Alternative: The team does not tolerate any misconduct and violent behavior.

The Body

‘The body’ is another alternative for saying ‘we’ in formal essays. We mostly use ‘body’ when referring to large groups of individuals like the audience, spectators, or students. However, we do not use it for extreme scales such as a race population, and the like.

Take a look at these examples below.

• Original: We didn’t find the presentation interesting.
• Alternative: The body didn’t find the presentation interesting.

• Original: We have a lot of questions we want to ask the speaker after the talk.
• Alternative: The body has a lot of questions they want to ask the speaker after the talk.

• Original: We listened to different opinions on the issue.
• Alternative: The body listened to different opinions on the issue.

• Original: We were only able to watch the latter part of the program.
• Alternative: The body was only able to watch the latter part of the program.

The Organization

‘The organization’ is a more specific alternative for ‘we.’ In using this alternative, we refer to ‘we’ as an organization in the context we are talking or writing. This alternative is most applicable for organization-related things. However, do not use this alternative if the context does not involve an organization.

Take a look at these examples below.

• Original: We will push through with the planned fundraising project.
• Alternative: The organization will push through with the planned fundraising project.

• Original: Our accomplishments this year are something we should be proud of.
• Alternative: The organization’s accomplishments this year are something they should be proud of.

• Original: We plan on collaborating with other organizations to plan the event.
• Alternative: The organization plans on collaborating with other organizations to plan the event.

• Original: We only accept people who have a passion for our advocacy.
• Alternative: The organization only accepts people who have a passion for their advocacy.

The Researchers

‘The researchers’ is a specific alternative to ‘we’ that we only use when we refer to ‘we’ as a group of researchers. We mostly use this alternative in writing research papers that need to be in the third-person perspective. However, we don’t use this alternative outside the scope of research.

Take a look at these examples below.

• Original: We administered a total of three set-ups for the study.
• Alternative: The researchers administered a total of three set-ups for the study.

• Original: We encountered circumstances that provided the limitations of our research.
• Alternative: The researchers encountered circumstances that provided the limitations of their research.

• Original: After three months of observation, our conclusion is as follows.
• Alternative: After three months of observation, the researchers’ conclusion is as follows.

• Original: Our study would not be successful if not for the help of our research adviser.
• Alternative: The researchers’ study would not be successful if not for the help of their research adviser.

The Company

‘The company’ is another specific alternative for ‘we.’ We only use this alternative, if we are in the context that ‘we’ refers to a company. We use this mostly in business-related reports or presentations. Other than that, we don’t use this alternative for purposes that do not involve a company.

Take a look at these examples below.

• Original: Our sales for this month are higher than last month.
• Alternative: The company’s sales for this month are higher than last month.

• Original: We only sell organic, vegan-friendly, and cruelty-free products.
• Alternative: The company only sells organic, vegan-friendly, and cruelty-free products.

• Original: We need to continuously track our demand and supply levels.
• Alternative: The company needs to continuously track its demand and supply levels.

• Original: Our vision and mission should guide us in all our endeavors.
• Alternative: The company’s vision and mission should guide the company in all its endeavors.

The Association

‘The association’ is also a specific alternative to ‘we.’ We only use this alternative if we are in a context to talk as part of or within an association. However, we do not use this alternative if we are not talking about, for, or as part of an association.

Take a look at these examples below.

• Original: We will hold meetings every Friday to discuss weekly matters.
• Alternative: The association will hold meetings every Friday to discuss weekly matters.

• Original: Our job is to advocate and uphold democracy in our country.
• Alternative: The association’s job is to advocate and uphold democracy in our country.

• Original: Our goal directs the objectives of every endeavor we take care of.
• Alternative: The association’s goal directs the objectives of every endeavor it takes care of.

• Original: We are open to expanding the scope of its initiatives.
• Alternative: The association is open to expanding the scope of its initiatives.

Humans

‘Humans’ is a specific alternative for ‘we’ that we use only when we refer to ‘we’ as the entire human population. We cannot use ‘humans’ for small-scale groups like researchers or a company. We use this alternative only when we regard ‘we’ as the entire human population.

Take a look at the examples below.

• Original: We have so much potential inside us.
• Alternative: Humans have so much potential inside them.

• Original: Sometimes, even 24 hours isn’t enough for what we want to do in a day.
• Alternative: Sometimes, even 24 hours isn’t enough for what humans want to do in a day.

• Original: All of us have a desire to accomplish something in our lives.
• Alternative: All humans have a desire to accomplish something in their lives.

• Original: We cannot live without one another.
• Alternative: Humans cannot live without one another.

Society

‘Society’ or ‘the society’ is an alternative to ‘we’ that we use when referring to ‘we’ as the society we are part of, or we are in. Like ‘humans,’ we do not use ‘society’ for small-scale groups, and we can only use this alternative for anything that involves our society.

Take a look at these examples below.

• Original: We are so cruel towards others sometimes.
• Alternative: Society is so cruel towards others sometimes.

• Original: We have reached far and accomplished a lot collectively.
• Alternative: Society has reached far and accomplished a lot collectively.

• Original: Sometimes, we put up unrealistic standards for ourselves and for others.
• Alternative: Sometimes, society puts up unrealistic standards for oneself and for others.

• Original: We should start accepting everyone for who they are.
• Alternative: Society should start accepting everyone for who they are.

Is It Appropriate To Use ‘Our’ And ‘We’ In Formal Essays?

Whether to use ‘we’ or not depends on how formal you want your essay to be or how formal it needs to be. Some formal essays allow the use of first-person pronouns like ‘we’ and ‘us.’ However, omitting these pronouns do make your essays sound more professional, formal, and objective.