Is it ever okay to express a personal opinion in an essay? If you do, is the phrase “in my opinion” a suitably formal way to start?
We’re here to answer all these pressing questions, but that’s not all! We’ve also compiled a list of synonyms for the phrase “in my opinion” so you’re never at a loss for words!
Other Ways to Say “In My Opinion”
- It could be argued
- From my perspective
- In my mind
- As I see it
- One might argue
- It appears
- It would seem
- It is my belief
- It could be argued
- As far as I’m concerned
- From my point of view
- I would argue
- I propose
- I suggest
- I suspect
- In the author’s opinion
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- In general, you should avoid using the phrase “in my opinion” in an academic essay.
- “It could be argued” is a better phrase to use in an essay, thesis, or dissertation.
- In professional settings, you can use the phrase “from my perspective” to change your phrasing from time to time.
Stay where you are! In the next section, we’ll discuss our choice of synonyms for “in my opinion” in more detail. We’ll even provide a few helpful examples.
Afterward, we’ll discuss whether you can use the phrase “in my opinion” in an essay. Are there any circumstances where it’s appropriate?
It Could be Argued
If you’re trying to figure out how to say “in my opinion” in an essay, “it could be argued” is a great choice.
Firstly, this phrase removes the personal pronoun “I.” Some professors and academics believe that first-person phrasing should be avoided in formal writing. Therefore, this would be a better option to use if you want to appease the person grading your paper.
Secondly, this phrase sounds more objective than the highly subjective original phrase. In many cases, readers don’t want to know the opinion of the author. Instead, they want to know what conclusions the author has drawn from their thorough research.
Finally, let’s look at a couple of examples making use of this alternative:
It could be argued that Fraud’s conclusions were based on only a very narrow sample of Western males and that his findings are, therefore, limited in this respect.
Although bands like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin are often praised as the inventors of heavy metal music, it could be argued that this genre initially developed in African American rock spaces.
From My Perspective
If you’re wondering how to say “in my opinion” professionally, we would go with “from my perspective.”
Essentially, this phrase is just a direct synonym for “in my opinion.” It is not a superior phrase to the original, but you can use it to mix up your language from time to time.
For example, it never hurts to change your phrasing in the workplace or in formal emails to your colleagues. It’s perfectly okay to express your opinion about work matters with your fellows.
Nonetheless, in academic writing, this phrase may be considered too subjective. Therefore, a more academic alternative may be better if you want to express this sentiment in a more formal way.
Consider the following professional examples to see this phrase in action:
From my perspective, reaching a settlement would be the most beneficial solution for all parties involved.
There is no difference between these two alternatives from my perspective, but if you think one is more suitable than the other, I will trust that.
Can You Say “In My Opinion” in an Essay?
In normal circumstances, it is suitable to start a sentence with the phrase “in my opinion” where you are expressing a viewpoint.
However, the phrase “in my opinion” is not suitable to use in an academic essay. You should never start an essay or thesis statement with this phrase.
Moreover, many academics believe that outwardly expressing a personal opinion in an argumentative or narrative essay is bad writing. Many professors urge their students to avoid the use of personal pronouns like “I” or “my.”
That being said, there are exceptions to this rule. In fact, in recent years, many academics have stated that academic papers ought to be more accessible. This means they should be written in a more straightforward manner that anyone can understand.
Proponents of more accessible writing may be quite comfortable with phrases like “in my opinion.” Therefore, we would suggest speaking to the person who is going to grade your essay and learning what they’d prefer before you start.
In conclusion, as a rule of thumb, you should avoid using the phrase “in my opinion” in an essay. However, we recommend communicating with your professor to determine their preferences before you start.
If you think you might make use of our list of synonyms in your future essay writing, why not bookmark this page to keep them nearby?