Third-person Point of View: Definition, Types, Examples

• Aug 30, 2024
• 5 min read

• Tags: Fiction, Fiction Writing

Do you want to make your writing expansive and engaging? Use the third-person point of view to achieve this by stepping outside a character’s head. Include as many viewpoints, angles, and plots as possible to offer readers a riveting narrative. 

In this article, we will discuss the concept of writing in the third person. This perspective allows you to enjoy creative liberties when writing about varied emotions, events, motives, plots, scenes, and characters. Read on as we explore how to write in the third-person point of view with examples. 

What is the third-person point of view? 

The third-person point of view is a storytelling method where the narrator steps outside a story to narrate from various angles and perspectives. The purpose is to cover several relevant aspects of the story to spin a gripping tale. Instead of narrating the story through the eyes of a single character, the narrator relays events using third-person pronouns like “he”, “she”, and “they”. 

For readers, stories written in the third person bring anticipation, emotion, fear, agitation, excitement, and intrigue, among other simple and complex feelings. This perspective opens up a range of possibilities for writers, too. If you are keen on exploring different writing approaches to suit your story as a writer, this is the POV to choose. 

Here are some examples of writing in the third-person point of view:

• • • • Mariah walked down the path, feeling the warmth of the sun on her face.
      • The researchers conducted a study on the effects of climate change on coastal communities.
      • He gazed out the window, wondering if she would ever return.

Types of third-person point of view

Selecting a suitable point of view significantly impacts how your story is perceived and understood by readers. In the third-person POV, the narrator looks at a story from the outside. The third-person point of view definition says that this approach offers readers a highly versatile and comprehensive perspective. 

There are three primary types of third-person point of view: third-person limited, third-person omniscient, and third-person objective. Understanding these types can help you decide how best to present your plot and portray your characters to engage your audience effectively.

1. Third-person limited point of view

The third-person limited POV talks about the experiences, emotions, and thoughts of a single character, or a few characters, while still narrating the story from an external standpoint. It gives the narrator the freedom to take the story in different directions.

The narrator does not know about the inner thoughts and motivations of all the characters in the story. So, it is a restricted but flexible viewpoint because a perspective shift is possible. Here is an example: 

“David stood at the edge of the cliff, his heart pounding as he stared down at the churning sea below. Fear gripped him, but he knew he had to jump. The memories of his father’s daring adventures flooded his mind. With a deep breath, he closed his eyes and stepped off the edge.”

2. Third-person omniscient point of view

In the third-person omniscient POV, the narrator knows everything about all the characters and events in a story. This narrator can access the experiences and emotions of every character in the story. 

This perspective provides an all-round view, where the entire story comes alive as a cohesive piece. Here is an example:

“Across the busy city, Anna hurried through the crowded streets, clutching a letter in her hand. Little did she know, just a block away, Daniel waited anxiously at a café, hoping she would arrive soon. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to both of them, a storm was brewing on the horizon, threatening to disrupt their carefully laid plans.”

3. Third-person objective point of view

In the third-person objective POV, the narrator reports events with an impersonal approach. They do not dive deep into the inner thoughts or feelings of the characters while narrating the story. 

This perspective provides an unbiased and detached view, where happenings or ongoings are only recorded from the outside. Here is an example:

“The town square buzzed with activity. Vendors called out to passersby, showing them their colorful wares. Children chased each other around the fountain, their laughter echoing through the air. A dog sniffed at scraps of food left behind on a bench, its tail wagging eagerly.”

How to write in the third-person point of view?

Writing in the third-person point of view involves narrating the story from an external perspective. Character names and their respective pronouns are used in such a narration. The narrator describes the events, feelings, and emotions without being on the scene to experience them. Also, the narrator describes the characters, or looks at them, without being one of them. 

Depending on the chosen type—limited, omniscient, or objective—the narrator typically provides varying levels of insight into the characters’ lives and the events surrounding them. Consistency is key here, as is providing rich descriptions through dialogue. 

Adequate, timely, and effective character development is crucial to offer readers an immersive reading experience. For example, in the Harry Potter series, JK Rowling built an intricate world of magic, friendship, and thrill by writing in the third-person limited point of view. She revealed plot twists and secrets gradually, and as Harry gathered more information about his life, so did the readers. 

Tips for writing effectively using the third-person point of view

Here are some tips to help you write in the third-person point of view: 

• • • • • • • • Choose the POV: Select the right POV type based on your storytelling needs. Depending on what and how much information you wish to reveal at different points, select a narration style: third-person limited, third-person omniscient, or third-person objective. 
              • Use third-person point-of-view pronouns: Use “he”, “she”, “they”, “him”, “her”, “them”, etc., along with character names to maintain the third-person perspective and establish a strong narrative. 
              • Stay consistent: Stick to the chosen perspective throughout the narrative. Avoid switching between characters’ thoughts abruptly.
              • Focus on character development: Use actions, dialogues, and conversations to reveal information about the characters in your story.
              • Show, don’t tell: Describe events and actions to show how characters feel, emote, and think instead of directly stating how a character feels. “Show, don’t tell” is a powerful way to achieve this. 
              • Transition wisely: If you need to transition from one perspective to another, ensure it is done smoothly to avoid confusion and disconnect. Scene breaks are a good way to do this.

Third-person point of view in fiction and nonfiction 

In fiction, the third-person point of view can be used to weave a story that creates fascination, mystery, intrigue, excitement, fear, and suspense, among other things. While the first-person point of view and second-person point of view are popular forms of writing, the third-person POV appeals to many old and contemporary fiction writers. 

Let us see some examples of the third-person point of view in this section. 

• • • • • • • • Third-person limited:

Stacy walked through the bustling market, her thoughts drifting to the conversation she had overheard earlier.

Readers only have information about Stacy. They will not know what she overheard unless the narrator chooses to divulge. 

• • • • • • • • Third-person omniscient: 

Across town, Shaun was preparing for the meeting, unaware that Mylee had already made up her mind about confronting him.

Readers become aware of Shaun and Mylee’s movements and actions in one go.

• • • • • • • • Third-person objective: 

The clock struck midnight as the car screeched to a halt outside the mansion. Lights flickered on in the windows on the upper floors.

The above sentence has a matter-of-fact tone; it does not evoke any emotions. Even if a dead body were to be dropped out of this car later, the narration does not build any suspense or anticipation at this point. 

In nonfiction, this POV is used to detach from events, emotions, and opinions. It is commonly seen in news pieces, reports, academic writing, biographies, etc. Some examples of such writing are: 

• • • • • • • • News report:

The CEO announced plans to expand operations into Asia next quarter.

• • • • • • • • Academic report: 

The study examined the correlation between exercise, diet, and cardiovascular health in the nation’s youth.

• • • • • • • • Biography: 

He was born in a small town in 1948 and grew up dreaming of becoming a musician.

Popular instances of third-person point-of-view writing

In this section, we have listed some well-known examples of writing in the third person in the form of excerpts from novels. Let us know in the comments which one is your favorite! 

Isn’t it interesting that the third-person POV can drastically change how you communicate with your audience? 

Try writing your next book, blog, or article in the third person and see if this strategy works for you. If you need professional assistance, we can help! Explore PaperTrue’s editing and proofreading services for more information on what our editors can do for you. 

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Rashmi

Rashmi is a versatile writer with a passion for developing engaging long-form content. With a keen interest in both academic and business spheres, she enjoys creating comprehensive content pieces that readers find informative and interesting. She endeavors to exercise her intellectual curiosity, explore new perspectives, and consider different possibilities through her writing.