Objective vs Subjective Register

Definition: “The term academic register is used to describe the characteristics of language that make it 'academic'. In particular, it encompasses the features of vocabulary and grammar that help to create the academic 'feel' of a language.”

The extent to which your writing comes across as objective or subjective is called “register”. Many students think of register as a simple choice between personal pronouns (Should I use ‘I’ or ‘we’?) or, alternatively, impersonal patterns (for instance the passive: ‘it is suggested that…’). While the choices which impact writer visibility are certainly an important aspect to consider, register is not limited to a small set of individual grammatical choices, and should run like a thread through your entire text. Learning to apply the appropriate register, through consistent use of language, is a fundamental part of being recognised as an expert in your field.

Please consider the examples below to explore some of the structural and linguistic considerations that impact objective or subjective register of your writing.

Oxford Argument Plan Examples

Objective Register

MPLS Example

"We next used one example of HT to process the sensitivity analysis with various values of blood viscosity 𝜇 , the definition of haematoma surface pressure 𝑝 ∗ and blood pressure 𝑝. This example of HT was set close to the lenticular nucleus, which is found to be a high occurrence location of HT (Horie et al., 2019). Correlations between haematoma volumes ( reduction ( ∆𝐹 ) with 𝜇 , 𝑝 ∗ and 𝑝 𝑉) and perfusion were tested. Fig.4.8A shows a critical phenomenon that was found when we adjusted the blood viscosity when the haematoma volume increased to the range of 10.35% 3.4 −4.1cP."

Social Science Example

"To evaluate the effect of these changes, counties that adopted the interventions’ modified benefit package were compared with counties that maintained benefits under the government NCMS scheme. The analyses of 2019 is considered as the baseline preintervention, with and 2021 and 2022 considered the post-intervention years. Three longitudinal household surveys were fielded in five counties in Ningxia in 20019, 2021, and 2022 (Table 3.11) (Appendix A for questionnaires). They collected information on individual health status, health care utilization, health expenditure, household consumption, and various demographic characteristics. Because all current surveys were collected at the same time of year (February), they reflect mostly the previous year’s benefit package."

Analysis

As both the MPLS and Social Science studies above were based on empirical evidence, the writers implemented for an objective academic register. As previously mentioned, ordering of information is the first consideration when utilising this style of writing. This is to say that natural science and empirical social science studies tend to firstly conduct a phase of seemingly neutral observation (usually involving discussions on methodology and results) before setting out the interpretations of those findings. The objective register in both extracts is underscored by the low writer visibility (see: Writer Visibility). Other than the plural 'we' used in the MPLS example (which is common in scientific writing), both extracts avoid the use of the personal pronoun 'I'. In its place, they opt for a number of passive constructions (e.g. "The example...was set close to" & "Three...surveys were fielded") and proxy nouns (e.g. "Fig.4.8A shows..." & "The analyses of 2019 is considered...). The use of concise, short sentences helps to further bolster the impression that these are objective, systemic investigations. 

Subjective Register

Humanities Example

"Among numerous Heraclitean doctrines, Nietzsche is particularly interested in the doctrine of flux, alternatively known as the theory of becoming. As I show below, Nietzsche seems to have good knowledge of the Heraclitean fragments regarding this topic. Nietzsche’s discussion is not philological, however. Nietzsche attributes his own cosmic and epistemic doctrine of the will to power to the Heraclitean doctrine of flux, having in mind the goal of shedding light on Heraclitus’ relationship with Platonism. For modern scholars, by contrast, the goal is to reconstruct the original meaning of Heraclitus’ doctrine of flux and deduce its relationship with the other aspects of his thought, such as elemental transformation."

Social Science Example

"The possibilities for relational legal pluralism exist in a somewhat bifurcated state. On one hand, while all these differences may at first seem insurmountable, they can be recast toward shared purpose and allyship in everyday deliberative spaces. I suggest that these build on pre-existing boundary-work, and what solidarity and shared interests remain. In this way, differences begin to seem less stark and space for reconciliation is further opened up. On the other, what economic reconciliation has already been achieved has served to constrain space. This will be far harder to overcome since it has placed the outlook of Mi’kmaq and non-Indigenous fishers more directly in opposition, greatly damaged relationships, and aggravated racism."

Analysis

As both the Humanities and Social Science studies above are based on a conceptual exploration of the topic (rather than empirical data), the writers opted for a less objective academic register. As previously mentioned, ordering of information is the first consideration when utilising this style of writing. This is to say that, in more conceptual studies, the evidence-interpretation structural pattern seen in the Natural Sciences is inverted. Instead of presenting findings before putting forward an interpretation, arguments (or interpretations) are often presented first by the writer and then substantiated afterwards, often through textual evidence.

As noted earlier, the term 'subjective' register is probably not an appropriate description, as good writing in these fields will likewise substantiate all claims and key points with sufficient evidence (see: Discussions). What can be observed from the extracts above, however, is that conceptual writing of this kind tends to:

1. highlight that there are multiple possible interpretations surrounding the objects of study. These can include interpretations from other scholars, groups of people, famous theorists, or indeed the writer themselves.

2. writer visibility can be quite high, even to the extent where the writer 'enters into dialogue' with these published academics (e.g. "for modern scholars"), cultural groups (e.g. indigenous and non non-indigenous people), or famous theorist (e.g. Nietzsche). In both examples above, the personal pronoun 'I' was used to underscore the writer's outlook, or contribution, but the conventions surrounding the use of personal pronouns varies by department, or area of study, within the Social Sciences and Humanities.

Note: Social Sciences feature in the two styles, or register types, above. This is because Social Science fields of study can lean more towards empirical or, alternatively, conceptual investigations.