Caesar’s Hors d’oeuvres--Anthropomorphism

Hors d'oeuvres # 002

Anthropomorphism

As a Writer and/or as a Scholar "beware" about: Anthropomorphism

“What is anthropomorphism?

Anthropomorphism refers to giving human characteristics to a nonliving object or animal.

 

Why should I avoid anthropomorphism?

In academic writing, it is best to avoid using anthropomorphism because it causes sentences to be unclear and imprecise.

Because academic writing should be clear and direct, you want to avoid any phrasing that is not precise.

To make sure your sentences are precise, be sure that the subject of your sentence can perform the action of the verb.

 

What does anthropomorphism look like?

Anthropomorphism can show up differently in your writing. To see variations, see the examples below:

• Example One:

Incorrect: The article from Lassitter and Jones (2009) discussed in how coffee wakes you up in the morning.

Correct: Lassitter and Jones (2009) discussed how coffee wakes you up in the morning.

The incorrect sentence above includes anthropomorphism. An article cannot discuss something, as being able to discuss a topic is a human characteristic.

• Example Two:

Incorrect: This experiment attempted to investigate how students learn APA style (Wheatley, 2016).

Correct: Wheatley (2016) attempted to investigate how students learn APA style.

The incorrect sentence above includes anthropomorphism. An experiment cannot attempt something, but a researcher can.  

• Example Three:

Incorrect: A review of the literature concluded that there is a gap in the research on this topic (Fraenza, 2016).

Correct: Fraenza (2016) concluded that there is a gap in the research on this topic.

The incorrect sentence includes anthropomorphism. A written work cannot conclude something, but a writer can, like the correct sentence demonstrates.

 

How do I avoid anthropomorphism?

When discussing research, focus on the authors or writers and state what they did, concluded, said, or found.

Do not use their results, article, or analysis as the subject of the sentence”(Retrieved from https://writingcenter.ashford.edu/anthropomorphism).

The concepts abovementioned are clear description of anthropomorphism, however the following excerpts [APA formatting] make one think, two times, if the attributes in each statement are correct as are demonstrated in the following table:

 

Correct usage	Incorrect usage	Rationale
Rat pairs lived in the same enclosure.	Rat couples lived in the same enclosure.	“Rat couples” makes a misleading comparison between pairs of rats and human romantic couples.
The theory addresses	The theory concludes	A theory might address, indicate, or present, but researchers (not theories) conclude.

 

What do you think my fellow reader?

 

By the same token, this scholar agrees with the following:

“Determining what constitutes anthropomorphism can be challenging, and even distinguished scholars may disagree.

If a construction is in widespread use and its meaning is unambiguous, it is usually not anthropomorphic” (Retrieved from https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/grammar/anthropomorphism ).

 

However, this scholar disagrees with the same concepts of the manuscript, which emphasize:

 

For example, when describing what is contained in sections of an APA Style paper, the following constructions are all acceptable:

1. "In this section, I address"

Here this scholar cannot find anthropomorphism but “Avoid Using First Person Point of View in Academic Writing.”

2. "This section addresses"

This scholar is challenging this affirmation. What do you think?

3. "This paper focuses on"

This scholar is challenging this affirmation. What do you think?

4. "In this paper, I focus on"

Here this scholar cannot find anthropomorphism. Anyway, “Avoiding Using First Person Point of View in Academic Writing” is extremely important!

5. "The results suggest"

This scholar is challenging this affirmation. What do you think?

6. "The study found"

This scholar is challenging this affirmation. What do you think?

7. "The data provide evidence that"

This scholar is challenging this affirmation. What do you think?"

 

By the same token, this scholar hopes that the readers have found some answers.

 

Consequently, when referring to Scholarly Writing cannot accept the following asseveration:

 

“…However, common usage in academic writing includes some phrases such as "the results suggest" that, although examples of anthropomorphism, are acceptable for use because they do not lead to confusion. See APA 7, Section 4.11 for more information” ([Retrieved from https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/apa/other/anthropomorphism).

 

This scholar defines that the purity of a language is indispensable to cultivate the richness of the any language.

 

Thus, this scholar does not accept the term “acceptable.”  In fact, acknowledging this absurdity goes in detriment of the English writing and the English language.

 

Theories, studies, results, and other aspects of research can take certain verbs in common usage without leading to confusion:

• address
• contribute
• find
• focus on
• indicate
• present
• provide
• show
• suggest

Some examples are

• The results showed a relationship between time spent in the intervention program and student standardized test scores.
• The table presents information on the demographics of this study.
• The theory indicates that societies work much like ecological systems, with different groups playing different and necessary roles in the larger system.

Theories, studies, results, and other aspects of research are sometimes paired with other kinds of actions that obscure the clarity of who is doing the action, though.

For example, consider the active verbs here and whether it would be best if a person or group of people took the action described by the verbs:

 

• Less clear phrasing: The theory concluded that transformational leadership style influences follower job satisfaction.
• Revised for clarity: The theorists concluded that transformational leadership style influences follower job satisfaction.  

• Less clear phrasing: The theory determined that society operates based on a type of ecology analogous to a biological ecosystem.
• Revised for clarity: Through their research, population ecology theorists have determined that society operates based on a type of ecology analogous to a biological ecosystem.  

• Less clear phrasing: The study explored the effect of retention strategies on RNs in an urgent care center.
• Revised for clarity: In the study, I explored the effect of retention strategies on RNs in an urgent care center.  

• Less clear phrasing: The study examined the relationship between childhood bullying experiences and later life friendship attachments.
• Revised for clarity: In this study, I examined the relationship between childhood bullying experiences and later life friendship attachments.

​

​Organizations

Organizations, as groups of people, can take actions that are appropriate for human actors:

• Johnson & Johnson recalled products from Target store shelves.
• The school board voted to require school uniforms.
• The Society of Professional Journalists issued new ethics guidelines.
• The hospital implemented new procedures regarding RN staffing requirements.

However, avoid ascribing actions to organizations when it is important to understand which specific people within the organization performed the action.

• Problematic phrasing: The factory walked out on strike.
• Possible revision: All nonmanagement employees of the factory walked out on strike”

(Retrieved from https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/apa/other/anthropomorphism).

 

All the highlighted statements are example of anthropomorphism, period!

 

Indeed, "Avoid Using First Person Point of View in Academic Writing;" is very important, please do not forget about that as well!

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