Manuscript Preparation, Copyediting, and Proofreading

Q. This is a widely debated issue. When reporting on your own research in a manuscript, do you refer to yourself in the first or third person? Example: “The authors surveyed participants at a local library” or “We surveyed participants at a local library.” What is CMOS’s take on this issue?

A. Please see CMOS 5.250, s.v. I; me: “When you need a first-person pronoun, use one. It’s not immodest to do so; it’s superstitious not to.”