Avoiding Needless Self-Reference

Avoid such unnecessary phrases as I believe, I feel, and in my opinion. There is no need to remind your reader that what you are writing is your opinion. Self-reference is another—very obvious—form of qualifying what you say.

• WEAK: I am of the opinion that air pollution is a more serious problem than most people realize.
• FORCEFUL: Air pollution is a more serious problem than most people realize.

Avoiding Needless Self-Reference Practice Set

Eliminate needless self-references in these sentences.

1. It seems to me that nuclear energy is safer and cleaner than burning fossil fuels. I think we should build more nuclear power plants.

2. The author, in my personal opinion, is stuck in the past.