Short answer: Write your press release in the third person. Use "I", "we", "you" and similar words only inside direct quotes. This is the standard for press releases and keeps the tone professional and objective.
Pronouns at a glance
Perspective | Pronouns | In a press release |
First person | I, me, my, mine, myself, we, us, our, ourselves | ❌ Only inside direct quotes |
Second person | You, your, yours, yourself, yourselves | ❌ Only inside direct quotes |
Third person | He, she, it, they, him, her, them, his, hers, its, their, theirs, himself, herself, itself, themselves, or the company's name | ✅ Required everywhere else |
❌ Don't | ✅ Do |
We expanded our operations to a new market. | XYZ Corporation announced today that it has expanded its operations to a new market. |
We remain committed to innovation. | The CEO of ABC Enterprises stated that the company remains committed to innovation. |
First person: only inside quotes
First-person pronouns include singular forms such as I, me, myself, mine and my, and plural forms like we, our, us and ourselves. Use them only in direct quotes, for example:
John Doe, CEO of XYZ Corporation, stated, "I had an amazing day visiting our new office and meeting the talented team driving our success."
"I am excited about the upcoming product launch, as it marks a significant milestone for our company," said Jane Smith, Chief Marketing Officer.
Second person: only inside quotes
Second-person pronouns, including you, your, yourself, yours and yourselves, can be effective in advertisements and direct communication, but press releases use third-person references instead. Use them only in direct quotes, for example:
"Your dedication to excellence has been instrumental in our company's recent success," said Jane Doe, Senior Manager of Human Resources, addressing the team during a company-wide announcement.
Third person: the required style
Instead of first- or second-person pronouns, press releases refer to companies, individuals or organizations by name or use third-person pronouns. This keeps the release credible, neutral and authoritative. Examples:
Company announcement: XYZ Corporation announced today that it has expanded its operations to a new market.
Executive statement: The CEO of ABC Enterprises stated that the company remains committed to innovation.
Event recap: The annual conference attracted industry leaders who shared insights on emerging trends.