“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God,
who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20 — KJV
Distilled Rendering
“I consider myself as having died, and now enjoying a second existence:
which is simply Jesus using my body.”
Preachers who excessively use the pronoun “I” give indication that
they have little grasp of the core of the Pauline epistles.
As the result of decades of dead church pulpits, the world has digressed. We have witnessed people using pronouns
to identify with nothing short of demon spirits.
The Pauline confession is not the exaltation of self, but the displacement of self:
“Not I, but Christ liveth in me.”
The exact advice depended on the assignment, but the general principle was simple:
strong writing should direct attention toward the subject, the argument, and the evidence—not repeatedly toward the writer.
What Students Were Commonly Taught
Research Papers & Reports
Avoid first person—“I,” “me,” and “my”—almost entirely. State the conclusion directly
rather than announcing that it is your conclusion.
Essays
Many teachers discouraged overusing “I,” even in persuasive essays, because it could
make the writing sound subjective, informal, or immature.
Personal Narratives
“I” was expected, but students were encouraged to vary sentence structure so that
every sentence did not begin the same way.
Instead of: “I believe the evidence shows…”
Write: “The evidence shows…”
Why Repetition Was Criticized
- Repeating “I” draws attention to the writer rather than the subject.
- Excessive use can make writing sound self-centered or monotonous.
- Strong formal writing focuses on ideas and evidence instead of the author’s presence.
A Common Rule of Thumb
One or two uses of “I” on a page: usually acceptable.
Beginning several consecutive sentences with “I”: poor style.
Using “I” every few sentences: often marked down unless the assignment was specifically personal.
How Standards Changed
Writing instruction became more flexible during the 1980s and 1990s. Many modern style
guides, including those used in academic disciplines, now accept first person when it
improves clarity and accurately identifies the writer’s actions or conclusions.
Today, “I” is common in reflective writing and is accepted in many forms of scholarly and
professional communication. The issue is no longer simply whether first person appears,
but whether it serves a clear purpose.
By 1970s classroom standards: frequent repetition of “I” would often
have been criticized as weak style—even when the grammar itself was correct.