"Person" refers to the relationship and viewpoint that writers take when they are addressing their readers. If a writer takes the viewpoint of the one telling the story, it is called first person. First person is the person speaking.  

        First person pronouns: Singular = I, me, my, mine        Plural = we, us, our, ours

If a writer refers to the reader in the paper, it is called second person. Second person is the person spoken to.

        Second person pronouns:  Singular = you, your, yours        Plural = you, your, yours

If a writer refers to the person or thing written about, it is called third person. Third person is the person spoken about.

        Third person pronouns:  Singular= he, she, it, him, her, its, his, her, hers        Plural =they, them, their, theirs

Once a writer takes a viewpoint, it is important to stay with that "person." Do not make shifts in person in a paper. If you start out using the pronoun "I" (first person), do not shift and start using the word "people" or "they" (third person). Unless an instructor says otherwise, do not use "you" (second person) in a paper.

        Example: I am a good student, and I like school.  Students who enjoy school make a special effort to attend their classes.
 
        The pronoun "I" is first person, and the noun "students" and the pronoun "their" are third person.

Avoid this shift from first to third person.

        Example: A student can make good grades if you study diligently.  (This is a shift from third--the word "student"--to second person--"you.")

Check for shifts like this in a paper.  Look for the word "you" or "your" in a paper and replace it with the appropriate first or third
person pronoun.