Needless Self-Reference

For academic writing, avoid such unnecessary phrases as I believe, I feel, and in my opinion. You can assume that the reader knows that you, as the writer of the essay, are the one who believes, thinks, and feels the ideas your are writing. Therefore, phrases such as I feel, I believe, and it's my opinion that are obvious and unnecessary.

WEAK: I am of the opinion that air pollution is a more serious problem than the government has led us to believe.

FORCEFUL: Air pollution is a more serious problem than the government has led us to believe.

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

FORCEFUL: The author is stuck in the past.

WEAK: I don't think this argument can be generalized to most business owners.

FORCEFUL: This argument can not be generalized to most business owners.

WEAK: Although I am no expert, I do not think privacy should be valued more than social concerns.

FORCEFUL: Privacy should not be valued more than social concerns.